Journal of Paediatric Medicine & Surgery
Open Access

Biography

Researcher at Prof. Sir Stephen Bloom’s Drug Discovery group, Division of Diabetes, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Aug 2015 till date

Research Interest

Research Interests Antidiabetic actions of structurally modified peptides Identification, screening and study of structurally modified biologically active brain-gut peptides on the regulation of feeding, pancreatic beta cell function and anti-hyperglycaemic activity. The focus of this research is to evaluate the impact of structural modification of biologically active brain-gut peptides on satiety, insulin-releasing activity and antihyperglycaemic potential. This work has culminated in the synthesis of a number of novel biologically potent enzyme-resistant peptide analogues for potential obesity-diabetes therapy. Discovery of novel antidiabetic and anti-obesity drugs Characterization of novel antidiabetic agents, isolation of new compounds from natural sources, elucidation of their sites and modes of action and potential therapeutic role in correcting insulin secretion and action in diabetes. My current research is directed towards discovery, isolation and characterization of novel peptides that affect glycaemia, energy balance and satiety. Mechanisms of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction Identifying the actions of glucolipotoxicity, on insulin action, beta cell down regulation, insulin secretory dysfunction, insulin resistance, for better understanding the aetiologies and pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. The major thrust in this area concerns the role of glucose, lipid, drug toxicity and glycation of pancreatic beta-cell proteins in the development of insulin secretory dysfunction, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. One highlight is the discovery that pancreatic beta-cells secrete glycated insulin, which through impaired biological activity contributes to insulin resistance. Clinical studies are underway using a novel and specific assay for glycated insulin developed in our laboratory.