Research Description
Latin American population is disproportionately affected by diabetes compared to other populations, being type 2 (T2D) the most common form. Despite that, there has been a historical underrepresentation of the Latin American population in the studies aiming to understand the unique causes of T2D in this population. For instance, genetic studies have identified multiple DNA regions that influence an individual’s risk of developing T2D but have mainly focused on European ancestry populations. The high rate of T2D in Latin American populations can be attributed to a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and healthcare factors unique to this population and cannot be captured by studying other populations. Therefore, this project aims to identify the DNA regions uniquely driving the risk of T2D in Latin American populations and the metabolic processes they are affecting. We will study more than 250,000 individuals of Latin American ancestry with available genetic and extensive clinical data that spans early life to adulthood. We will also analyze how these unique genetic characteristics influence the function of tissues relevant to T2D development, such as the muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. This will also be done in tissue samples from Latin American individuals so that they can capture the genetic diversity of this population. We hope our study helps understand the pathways inherently impacting the Latin American population's susceptibility to T2D and that this knowledge can help optimize preventive and treatment interventions, thereby reducing the gap in health inequalities.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?Diabetes disproportionately affects the Latin American population due to their unique genetic architecture and environmental factors. My project focuses on enhancing the discovery of genetic regions related to diabetes, aiming to elucidate the mechanistic pathways inherent to diabetes risk in the Latin American population. Beyond increasing the sample size and representation, I aim to implement innovative methodologies that account for the diverse genetic architecture of this population. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to reducing health inequalities in the underrepresented Latin American population.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?Diabetes is projected to grow from 25-50% in Latin American populations compared to a projected growth of 13% in the high-income European population. Existing knowledge about diabetes pathophysiology is predominantly derived from European-centric studies. Therefore, our research aims to bridge this gap by unraveling the biological pathways that underlie the high prevalence and clinical presentation of diabetes in the Latin American populations. The findings will not only contribute to a deeper understanding of the disease but also facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets that may not be evident through the study of other populations. Our goal is to provide more personalized approaches to diabetes management for individuals in the Latin American population.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?As a Latin American woman, my research is motivated by the understanding of the critical risk factors that predispose our population to the development of metabolic diseases and what can be done to reduce health disparities. This grant will enable me to acquire the additional training and research experience I need to achieve independence as a genomic investigator, focusing on the particularities of Latin American ancestry, so that the knowledge produced by my research can ultimately be translated to reduce the burden of diabetes and its complications in the disadvantaged Latin American population.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?Although promoting diversity has been widely acknowledged, sufficient resources for genetic study are lacking for Latin American populations. While generating additional multi-omic data is essential, incorporating the diversity of environmental factors to which the different human populations are exposed is essential, especially for economically disadvantaged populations, where unfavorable conditions start during the early phases of development, including in utero.