Overview

The Diabetes Research Center (DRC) at QBRI, is working for the improved prevention, reversal, and treatment of diabetes and related complications and comorbidities, contributing to the Qatar national diabetes research, strategy, and health priorities research programs.

Diabetes is a major healthcare challenge globally. In Qatar, the prevalence of diabetes is an estimated 17% of the population - twice the global average. For patients with diabetes, 10% have type 1 diabetes and 90% type 2 diabetes. A further 20% of the population have prediabetes, with 10% of these progressing to type 2 diabetes per annum. A key driver of the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is being overweight and obese, affecting over 70% of adults (with over 35% obese) and 20% of children. Further concerns are vascular complications of diabetes - nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease – which affect 30 – 40% of patients with diabetes.

QBRI works with collaborators and partners on the mechanistic understanding of diabetes, diabetic complications, and comorbidities, with an integrated translational and precision medicine approach.

Research Areas

Stem Cell and Beta-cell Biology in the Study of Obesity and Diabetes

This research area studies human pluripotent stem cells to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of diabetes and to generate functional pancreatic beta-cells for therapeutic use in diabetes.
 

Prevention and Reversal of Type 2 Diabetes

This area focuses on how insulin resistance and obesity drives the development of type 2 diabetes, as well as the impact of lifestyle intervention and treatments on the prevention and reversal of type 2 diabetes.
 

Biomarkers of Prediabetes, Diabetes, Diabetic Vascular Complications and Comorbidities

This area studies dysfunctional glucose metabolism and other drivers of the development of diabetes and related microvascular complications of diabetes and comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, stroke and dementia) to identify biomarkers for implementation of precision medicine.
 

Research Teams

Dr. Prasanna R. Kolatkar

Senior Scientist

Dr. Abdelilah Arredouani

Senior Scientist