Our overarching aim is to enhance the care of patients with, or at risk of metabolic disease such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
There are almost 4 million people living with diabetes in the UK and their care consumes 10% of the NHS budget, a figure that is expected to rise in the coming years. An estimated 10 million people in the UK have MASLD.
Using world-leading knowledge of cellular and tissue biology developed in Oxford, we will look at the pancreas (for type 1 diabetes) and liver (for type 2 diabetes and MASLD). This will feed into our understanding of the mechanisms that might drive these diseases.
We can then combine this with small-scale experimental medicine studies to define the processes that determine how these metabolic diseases progress, and enhance the care of people living with, or at high risk of these metabolic diseases.
Based on our findings, we can trial new interventions with patients and eventually explore the possibility of them being adopted into wider clinical practice in the NHS.
Sub-themes in this theme reflect these key stages in tackling the three diseases:
- Cellular & Molecular physiology and pathology
- Experimental metabolic medicine and integrative physiology
- Translating experimental medicine into state-of-the art care
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Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Much of the work in this theme lies within the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism – a pioneering centre that combines basic and clinical research, clinical care and education.
Researchers in this theme will work closely with colleagues in other BRC themes, notably Cancer (especially around the liver); Genetics (looking at fat cells and liver cells); and Imaging (in MASLD clinical studies).
Our work is very much aligned with patient needs and the priorities outlined by the James Lind Alliance. We have active panels of patients living with metabolic disease and public champions in our management group.