I know there is a lot said about research, but I have hope that this one could really have life-altering impact for everyone facing the complications from diabetes:
Publication: The Edmonton Sun
Date: Thu May 17 2012
Byline: Kevin Maimann, Qmi Agency
The University of Alberta is churning out new hope for people with diabetes.
Dr. Gavin Oudit withthe faculty of medicine and dentistry has found that ACE2 -- a molecule known to prevent heart damage -- likely plays a key role in diabetes.
His research, done in collaboration with the University of Florida, has shown that lab models with high levels of ACE2 in their vascular reparative cells did not get complications from diabetes. When ACE2 was taken away, heart and vascular function worsened.
"I think this is very exciting, because diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, the leading cause of patients going onto dialysis because of kidney damage, and a major cause of cardiovascular disease," Oudit said.
"I think this offers new hope for patients with diabetes."
Human recombinant ACE2 is in Phase 2 clinical trials as a treatment for lung disease, but Oudit and his colleagues now hope it can be extended as a pharmaceutical to treat diabetic patients and help them avoid cardiovascular, kidney and eye disease.
The next step in Oudit's research is to analyze human blood samples from Edmonton's Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic populations.
He said the research could have clinical implications within two to three years.
Oudit's work is published in the May 11 edition of the journal Circulation Research.