Units

ULB Center for Diabetes Research

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that can lead to chronic complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness and kidney failure. Loss of functional β-cell mass is the key mechanism leading to the two main forms of diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In order to prevent or revert diabetes, it is critical to understand the mechanisms behind β-cell failure, and this is one of the main objectives of the UCDR. There are basic pathogenic differences in the two forms of diabetes, i.e. immune-mediated in type 1 diabetes and metabolic in type 2 diabetes, which differentially impact early β-cell dysfunction and eventual fate.
In recent years there have been major advances in the field, mostly delivered by studies on β-cells in human disease. These include studies of islet morphology and human β-cell gene expression in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the identification and characterization of the role of diabetes candidate genes at the β-cell level, and endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling that contributes to β-cell failure in both forms of diabetes. Current therapies consist of insulin administration or drugs that increase insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity, but unfortunately none of them prevent the progressive loss of functional β-cell mass. Thus, research to develop novel treatment strategies to protect pancreatic β-cells in diabetes is urgently needed.

ULB Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Sports

U-IRIS is intended to bring together research skills existing at ULB in the fields of sports and physical activity in order to stimulate collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The research carried out within U-IRIS could be the basis of evidence-based advice in various fields of sport and physical activity. ULB and each of U-IRIS partner groups, as well as their existing activities, platforms, infrastructures and collaborations, will gain in visibility, both internally and externally in a promising and rapidly evolving field.

The research carried out by U-IRIS is designed to be both fundamental and applied. It is developed around five major axes:
- clinics / sports medicine
- high level sports / performance
- rehabilitation / handicap and sports
- sports and society (including education through sports)
- prevention / public health / nutrition.

The groups participating in U-IRIS represent the Faculties of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Medicine, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Motor Sciences, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, the School of Public Health, the Research Department, ULB-Sports and the Erasme Academic Hospital.

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