The successful development of imaging technologies for in vivo monitoring of beta-cell mass as proposed in BetaImage is of utmost strategic importance. The incidence of diabetes is on the rise in Europe (and worldwide), therefore the EU must face this problem. The kind of innovative research proposed by the BetaImage consortium has been actively stimulated and funded in the USA for more than a decade and it is now essential that equivalent research efforts are developed in Europe. BetaImage research will help to answer fundamental questions about the pathophysiology of regulation of beta-cell mass in diabetes mellitus eventually leading to improved treatment and new strategies to avoid the occurrence of the disease.
European researchers have historically been strong in the development of specific ligands for molecular imaging. Partners of BetaImage have been involved in the development of innovative PET/SPECT tracers and new labelling strategies. They have developed new imaging technology and improved existing technologies to open new fields for molecular imaging research. BetaImage partners have implemented databases of beta-cell specific antigens and established cell and animal models for diabetes research.
The development of highly sophisticated strategies for beta-cell imaging in vivo and in vitro with a focus on beta-cell mass, loss and neogenesis will critically support the European position in a very competitive field, where transformation of frontier scientific discoveries into exploitable products may have a profound impact on public health and European economy. To achieve this goal, we have elaborated a work programme comprising 6 work packages in which we describe the instruments assembled to achieve the aims of BetaImage. BetaImage results from well established co-operations developed during the last decade and initiated, at least in part, through collaborations based on previous European research framework programmes. Importantly, several of the participants of BetaImage are already collaborating, with a considerable number of joint publications. The present program will allow a consolidation of these collaborations, and their extension to novel partners. Indeed, BetaImage brings into the field colleagues with relevant expertise in diabetes/beta-cell physiology and molecular imaging.
BetaImage strives to help solve a major societal problem, which is the high (and still increasing) level of incidence of diabetes in the EU. Type 2 diabetes is a key health problem associated with an ageing population as well as with life style risk factors. Determining the beta-cell mass and improving diabetes therapy by beta-cell monitoring might help to both enrich the quality of life of patients and to reduce the costs of this disease to the European community. As stated above, type 2 diabetes is an age-related disease with an immense impact on the quality of life of older people. With an ageing population, this impact will grow even further. By helping to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients, BetaImage research may have a strong impact on improving the health of the ageing population. BetaImage may not only help to improve therapy, but it may also help to prevent the disease by identifying sub-populations at risk of developing diabetes so that specific prophylactic measures can be taken. Type 1 diabetes is the most common metabolic disease in the young and the most common chronic disease in children, with an increasing incidence. Imaging technologies developed in BetaImage might help in the early diagnosis T1D and support research. We expect that this will improve the possibilities of tackling prevention of the disease. This will have a significant impact upon the general health status of European children and adolescents and improve their situation with respect to the psychosocial consequences of T1D (diet, multiple daily injections, blood glucose monitoring etc.) but also help to avoid long-term complications (including blindness, renal failure, limb amputation, cardiovascular disease, premature mortality etc.). BetaImage will also help to reduce the economic burden from treatment of the disease and associated complications, amounting to circa 75 billion Euros per year in the European community.
The successful development of imaging strategies for in vivo beta-cell imaging, especially with respect to detection of small relative changes in beta-cell mass, is a formidable challenge. This challenge can only be achieved if leading European centres of expertise in the fields of molecular imaging and diabetes research are brought together. To guarantee for a high research impact and make a start from an advanced level possible, European centres with a clear edge in technology, skills, and expertise over other internationally renowned research groups with respect to the qualities required for BetaImage research have been gathered. The groups participating in BetaImage provide all technical and scientific skills required for innovative advances in the field of beta-cell (mass) imaging. Working in this cooperative approach with a clear translational focus will enable European scientists and biotechnology industry to achieve a leading position in beta-cell imaging as compared to research efforts that have been going on elsewhere.
The project will provide an excellent opportunity for training of young scientists in the fields of molecular imaging and diabetes
The project will also provide an excellent framework for educating the next generation of young scientists in the field of experimental and clinical imaging and diabetes research because of its multidisciplinary nature and the quality of the work proposed. It will facilitate exchange of personnel within European countries and foster contacts between different laboratories at all levels. Since several of the senior investigators are women, including half of the WP leaders, they will provide role models and support for younger women scientists. In doing so, it will also help to fulfil the objectives of The International Dimension of the European Research Area as defined by the European Commission in COM 2001 346.
Project Flyer
.png)
Search
