Warwick University Medical School has recently received £2 million to further its research into diabetes and a working agreement with a specialist healthcare firm for the next ten years.
The University will be working with Novo Nordisk a Danish company to research the social and biochemical impact of diabetes and treatment of the disease.
There are approximately 1.4 million people in the UK who suffer from diabetes. In August 2005 an audit by the Healthcare Commission said that there are about one in four people are who are not being diagnosed.
The audit also highlights the need for early detection as the disease is not being detected or prevented early enough. This will result in people facing higher risks of complications which can include blindness and kidney disease.
Professor Yvonne Carter, Dean of Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick said that one in ten hospital admissions are diabetes related. "This agreement between one of the UK’s leading research universities, the largest national healthcare system in the world and the leaders in diabetes care from private industry unites us in the fight against the world’s fastest growing chronic disease."
Viggo Birch, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk said, "Our vision is to defeat diabetes, but we cannot do it alone. So we must break down the false barriers between industry, government and academia and learn to work together. We are very much looking forward to working with the University of Warwick and continuing to support the NHS to achieve these united goals."
There are 150 million people who suffer from diabetes worldwide and it is estimated that the pandemic will affect 220 million people by the year 2015. Diabetes is a problem that will challenge the medical profession in the 21st century.
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