University of Southern Denmark participates in Hypo-RESOLVE, a large European diabetes project focusing on hypoglycaemia
Researchers from SDU’s Department of Psychology are to investigate the psychological burden of hypoglycaemia in people with diabetes and their family members in a large international research project.
With a total budget of 26.8 million euro from the EU and industry partners, researchers aim to gain new knowledge to develop better treatments for people living with diabetes.
The University of Southern Denmark is the only Danish university in the newly launched European research project Hypo-RESOLVE, where 23 leading international academic experts are joining together with industry and people with diabetes to find better solutions to ease the burden and consequences of hypoglycaemia in diabetes. From Denmark, Novo Nordisk and Nordsjællands Hospital also participate in the study.
Diabetes is a global pandemic that currently affects about 60 million people in Europe. Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) is a common and potentially severe complication of diabetes, particularly affecting people using insulin to manage their condition. Hypoglycaemia can lead to cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease and even death. Naturally, managing hypoglycaemia (and the risk of hypoglycaemia) can have a significant psychological burden.
Researchers from SDU will focus on the psychological factors related to hypoglycaemia
From the University of Southern Denmark, Professor Frans Pouwer of the Department of Psychology is heading the work package that is focused on the psychological/behavioural aspects of hypoglycaemia, how it affects psychological functioning and vice versa in people with diabetes and their relatives.
Professor Jane Speight (Director of the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), Melbourne), and Honorary Professor at the University of Southern Denmark, is co-leading this work package with Frans Pouwer. They have received 1.7 million euro to summarise existing knowledge in this area through several systematic reviews. In addition to this, several new qualitative and quantitative studies will be conducted. The project will strengthen the research team focused on diabetes at SDU’s Department of Psychology, with five PhD students and a postdoc researcher.
“In the new clinical multi-centre study, we will also focus on the short term psychological burden associated with hypos in persons with diabetes. In that study, we will use an app-based tool for measuring sleep quality, daytime functioning, emotional well-being and energy levels and link this information with data from a device that can continuously measure the blood glucose levels”, says Frans Pouwer.
Focus on patient wishes
The voices of people living with diabetes will be the core of Hypo-RESOLVE. A patient advisory committee has been established that will help ensure that patients' insights, opinions and wishes are taken into consideration in all the project's multiple components.
The purpose of the overall Hypo-RESOLVE project is to enable researchers and clinicians to improve their understanding of hypoglycaemia and its management by:
- Creating a sustainable clinical database;
- Conducting studies to better understand the underlying mechanisms of hypoglycaemia;
- Conducting a series of statistical analyses to define predictors and consequences of hypoglycaemia;
- Calculating the financial cost in European countries.
The project is funded with funding of 26.8 million euro from Innovative Medicines Initiatives (IMI), a joint venture of the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is Europe's largest public-private initiative aimed at improving health by accelerating the development and patient access to innovative drugs, especially in areas where there are unnecessary medical or social needs.