diabetes

In the study, the partners will perform exome sequencing and whole-genome array genotyping on more than 9,000 individuals with diabetes or with diabetic relatives.

The investment, which will be paid out over the course of five years, comes in part from industry sources.

Initially studying pancreatic tissue, the team also linked their findings to methylation patterns in blood, suggesting the possibility of developing a non-invasive test.

The team said their approach may have several applications, including evaluation of cellular response to therapies, and early diagnosis of diseases like cancer.

Using mass spec analysis of pancreatic β cell extracts, they identified peptides that appeared responsible for T cell responses involved in the disease.

A type 2 diabetes genome-wide association meta-analysis involving tens of thousands of Japanese individuals uncovered risk loci relevant to other populations.

The researchers demonstrated that blocking the functioning of certain genes expanded the lifespan of lab animals.