Diabetes and Covid-19: Diabetes research funding and support during the pandemic.

AIMS: Between late 2020 and early 2022, EURADIA undertook a survey of organisations and individuals supporting or working in the field of diabetes research with the aim of understanding better the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on funding for diabetes research in Europe. METHODS: Information was collected via online survey augmented in some cases by face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: Findings were mixed but the majority of those responding suggested a moderate impact of the pandemic on diabetes research activity. Many respondents reported a reduction in funding during the pandemic and many of those involved in clinical research experienced a reduction in research clinicians' availability for diabetes research as they were redeployed to Covid-19 patient care. It was frequently reported that the impact might not be fully appreciated until several years after the end of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary survey suggests there may be a significant impact of the pandemic on all aspects of diabetes research and that a more detailed follow-up on the impact of the pandemic on funding of diabetes research should be carried out in the future.

The EGIR-RISC STUDY (The European group for the study of insulin resistance: relationship between insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease risk): I. Methodology and objectives.

AIMS/HYPOTHESES: Insulin resistance is thought to be a key predictor for the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in Europe. Insulin resistance is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors (e.g. obesity and physical inactivity). The RISC (Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular disease) Study is using the infrastructure of an extended European collaborative research group to study insulin resistance and CVD risk in 1500 healthy people aged 30 to 60 years from 20 centres in 13 countries. METHODS: Baseline measurements of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity are made by the oral glucose tolerance test and the euglycaemic insulin clamp, respectively; carotid artery intima-medial thickness (by ultrasound), ankle/brachial pressure index and electrocardiography will enable evaluation of subclinical CVD at baseline and at follow-up. Classic CVD risk factors, as well as socioeconomic and lifestyle factors will be recorded at baseline; samples for measurement of biochemical and genetic markers will be collected and stored for future analyses. Investigations will be repeated after 3 and 10 years to evaluate the relationship between insulin resistance and the development of atherosclerosis as measured by carotid artery intima-media thickness. Development of Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular events are additional endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: This study will evaluate the importance of insulin resistance in the development of CVD and diabetes, and has implications for the development of prevention and treatment strategies.