Precision Medicine in Diagnosis and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and its Comorbidities

Diabetes mellitus represents one of the major public health issues affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, with an increasing prevalence of about 16% in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the onset of the disease is 10-15 years earlier than the global average. Up to one-third of all deaths in adult UAE nationals with T2D could be attributed to non-optimal glucose levels control. Given this high incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), consanguineous marriages, lifestyle influence, and total healthcare costs allocated to diabetes management in the Middle East population that are being among the highest in the world, it is pertinent to understand better factors associated with T2D and its related comorbidities, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, diabetic patients are exposed to the higher risk for cancer, demonstrating the significance of research concerning the biological links and identification of potential novel biomarkers associated with these complex diseases. Our goal in this project is to determine the levels of biomarkers in patients with T2D, as well as to analyse their potential association with T2D risk and related traits in the UAE population.

Expected outcome from the Student's work

This project is planned to be realized as follows:

This study is approved by the KU IRB.
This study will be conducted in collaboration with the research partners from the institutions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including the potential research collaboration with the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) (pending KU MTA approval).
Patients’ data are collected at the collaborating healthcare centres. Laboratory analysis include the measurement of the levels of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and other biomarkers.
Dissemination of the project results is anticipated during the last stage of the project and after the project finalization through publication of manuscript in the peer reviewed journal and/or presentation at the scientific conference.

Terms & conditions

Prior research experience is highly beneficial, including undergraduate research projects, internships, or work in a research-oriented job. It is important to demonstrate an understanding of the research process and ability to contribute. A well-crafted statement of purpose is crucial, which should explain candidate’s research interests and why he/she is interested in the particular research project.
Demonstrating proficiency in English is necessary.
If possible, it would be desired to schedule an interview, either in person or via video conferencing, which will provide an opportunity to assess suitability of the candidate for the research project.