Alström Syndrome gene is identified and could lead to new therapies for diabetes sufferers

Researchers at the University of Southampton have identified the gene responsible for Alström Syndrome, a rare disorder which causes diabetes, blindness, early hearing loss, kidney failure and heart problems in children. Details of the discovery will be published in the May issue of the journal Nature Genetics.

Professor David Wilson, Co-Director of the University's Division of Human Genetics, led the research and he explained the significance of the discovery: "Alström Syndrome is a severe disorder and identifying the cause may lead to new treatments. The children all suffer from insulin resistance, so finding the gene will improve our understanding of the mechanisms of diabetes. This in turn could have implications for the possible prevention and better treatment of diabetes, which is very common in the UK and worldwide."

Professor Wilson headed a large research team in Southampton, working in association with other researchers at the University of Newcastle.

The research was funded by Diabetes UK, the UK's leading charity for people with diabetes. Dr Moira Murphy, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: "This could be a real breakthrough for people with diabetes. We hope that this discovery will help to reveal more about how and why people develop insulin resistance, a key factor in Type 2 diabetes. Over 1 million people are already diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the UK and it is estimated that a further million have the condition but do not yet know it. It is vital that we seek the best treatments possible to try and prevent the devastating long term effects of the condition such as heart disease and blindness."