Novo Nordisk

Commercial

Ciara Vangjeli

OFHS230103

Heart disease, diabetes and obesity are some of the most common diseases in the UK. We have some understanding on how to prevent and treat these diseases. Still, too many patients suffer and die before their time. Our work aims to better understand why some are more prone to heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and how we can develop better drugs. Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol are known to make people more likely to develop heart disease or diabetes. Differences in people’s genetic code, or DNA, can also play a role. We want to find which parts of our genetic code make someone more likely to become ill. We will do this by searching for links between the medical and genetic data from participants of Our Future Health. By finding these genes and understanding what they do, we hope to develop new drugs for heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Many genetic risk factors for obesity, heart disease and diabetes are still unknown. To find these, we need to include data on millions of people in our research. Our Future Health enables us to do this. We also want to understand how genes work together, and if they act differently in different environments, such as in the countryside or in big cities. Our Future Health is one of the first studies that is big enough to try this. Most existing genetic data come from people who are white, and healthier and richer than the average person. Our Future Health is recruiting participants who better represent the entire UK population. This makes it possible to do research that is relevant for everyone in our society. It also enables us to find new variations in the genetic code that only exist in people from a certain background. Some people are born with a rare difference, or mutation, in their genetic code. This can make some very ill. Because these mutations are so rare, we do not understand them well. The size of Our Future Health allows us to study what it means for someone’s health when they have such a mutation.

We hope that our research will help us to develop better and safer treatments for obesity, heart disease and diabetes for all patients. The diversity in Our Future Health enables us to become better at finding the best treatment for every patient, based on their needs and background.

Public Health Research

14/03/2024

TRE