Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

The obesity linked type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for 90% of the 346 million cases of diabetes worldwide, a staggering number that will continue to rise. The long-term consequences of T2D include an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, amputation, kidney failure and blindness. This disease is a major burden to the health care system and the well-being of Canadians, and a better treatment is needed. T2D happens when the body loses the ability to respond to insulin, a hormone that is needed for the body to absorb sugars as source of energy. As a result, the body cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels. Interestingly, there is also increased inflammation in T2D, especially in the fat. T2D patients are continually exposed to high levels of insulin, from diet or from the over-production of insulin. We think that the exposure to high levels of insulin in T2D inhibits the anti-inflammatory function of regulatory T cells (Tregs), a type of immune cells that can suppress unwanted inflammation. The inhibition of Treg function then leads to excessive inflammation, which makes insulin resistance worse. If this idea is true, this research will lead to a deeper understanding of the close link between T2D and the immune system. Next, we will also explore whether we can use the immune system to fight T2D. We will study if Tregs would make an effective therapy for T2D since they have the ability to both suppress inflammation and reduce insulin resistance. Overall, the research results obtained here may lead to a new treatment for T2D and have a significant impact on the quality of life and well-being of many Canadians that suffer from T2D.