MRC Centre for Translational Research in Obesity and related Metabolic Diseases

Obesity is a major cause of premature death and disability. Obesity is particularly closely linked to the development of diabetes, with its attendant risks of blindness, kidney failure and amputation. These diseases are becoming more common. They both result from a combination of lifestyle factors and genetic susceptibility. Now that we are beginning to make strides in understanding the nature of these genetic and lifestyle factors, we need to better understand exactly how they interact to result in disease. When we do so, we will be in a much better position to target our attempts at prevention and treatment in the right way to the right individuals.

This application comes from a group of scientists, some based in basic science laboratories, some working with patients, yet others working in the area of public health. We want to bring our individual skills and knowledge together to create a Centre for research in obesity and diabetes that is greater than the sum of its parts. Through charitable and other sources we have already raised #20M for a new building in Cambridge to act as the hub for this Centre and are now looking to the MRC to help us to provide the core research facilities (including equipment and specialised technical staff) required for our studies. The MRC funding would also enable us to increase the number of students we train in this important but relatively neglected area.

Obesity is a major threat to public health in the UK and internationally. The clearest impact of obesity on health is through its influence on insulin resistance,diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Improved understanding of the fundamental causes of obesity and how it impacts on insuln resistance, diabetes and vascular risk will be critically important to the design of effective strategies for treatment and prevention.

We propose the establishment of a new MRC Centre for Translational Research in Obesity and Related Metabolic Disease (MRC CTROM) which exploits the existing collaborative interactions between internationally renowned clinical and basic scientists at the University of Cambridge, relevant MRC Units within the Cambridge area, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Oxford University. We believe that the collective expertise and reputation of this group of investigators will provide a unique intellectual synergy with the capability of becoming a world-leading centre for translational research in this crucially important area of biomedical research.