Diabetes – Genes, Autoimmunity and Prevention (D-GAP)

Can you help with a major research project?

This exciting new stage of research aims to make the connection between genes, the immune response (how our bodies react to infection) and type 1 diabetes.

We are asking brothers and sisters of young people with diabetes if they would take part in the study.  Brothers and sisters share the genes inherited from their parents and it is likely that some of the brothers and sisters, although they do not have diabetes, will have the genes which could predispose them to the disease.  We are also asking young people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes if they would take part in this study, as we wish to look at what is happening with the immune system in the very early stages of diabetes.

If a link can be established, it will greatly improve our understanding of how type 1 diabetes develops. By helping us you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped pave the way for developments in new therapies for diabetes.
 

Who can join the study?

• Brothers or sisters of someone with type 1 diabetes who was diagnosed below the age of 16 and are themselves aged between 5 – 40 who do not have type 1 diabetes

Children or young people who agree to join the study will be asked to provide a sample of saliva which will be used to study the genes related to diabetes.  The procedure is very simple and the sample can be sent back to us using Freepost. In the second phase of the study, after we have succeeded in collecting a large proportion of saliva samples in phase 1, we will be asking approximately one in five brothers and sisters back to provide a blood sample.  A local anaesthetic cream will be used to minimise any discomfort. A research nurse will arrange a convenient time for you to come along to the hospital for the blood test.

• Children and young people with type 1 diabetes

Children and young people who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within the last three months and are aged between 5 and 35 years of age are able to join the study.  We will need to collect a blood sample.  A local anaesthetic cream will be used to minimise any discomfort.  A research nurse will arrange a convenient time for you to come along to the hospital for the blood test.  

The study is sponsored by the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – www.jdrf.org.uk

If you are interested in finding out more information about D-GAP and how you may be able to help with the study you can: Telephone 01223 768616 or email d-gap@paed.cam.ac.uk or Text DGAP on 81025

Personal data that you provide to us will be kept confidential and any samples that you give to us will be anonymous.

This study has been approved by an independent Ethics Committee            

To find out more about our research please visit:

www.t1-diabetes.org.uk 

www.bristol.ac.uk/clinicalsciencenorth/diabetes

www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/medicine/research/diiid/depts/infect/background.html