Aetiology and Mechanisms of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders of Later Life

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It is suggested that type 2 diabetes arises from a complex interaction between genetic factors, obesity and lifestyle factors such as dietary behaviour and physical activity but the detailed mechanisms underlying these interactions have not been identified. We aim to study the interplay between these factors using a range of different epidemiological study designs across multiple studies around the world. We aim to identify genetic variants associated with risk of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic traits which can identify novel pathways to disease. Identification of these pathways can enable development of new therapies to help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes. A broad range of lifestyle, behavioural, anthropometric and biological risk factors are associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes. However, before we intervene on any of these risk factors, it is important to understand which ones are causal (i.e. would changing the risk factor actually result in reductions in risk?). Through the use of genetics, we can prioritise which of these risk factors is most likely to be causal and thereby define which risk factors are likely to be most fruitful for intervention.