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hails on 14 November with the aim of raising awareness about the disease and encouraging prevention and early diagnosis. 

Since the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and John Macleod exactly a century ago, the treatment of diabetes has made huge strides forward.

However, slowing down progression of the disease process in the pancreas still remains a major stumbling block to effective therapy. 

Researchers at the University of Malta, Prof. Neville Vassallo and Dr Adam El Saghir, are investigating the role of protein aggregates in the development of diabetes.

Working at a biochemical level, they have found that aggregates of the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) harm mitochondria, which are essential for release of insulin by the pancreatic cells.

The researchers are also collaborating with a team at the of the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen, Germany, to identify small molecules that can interfere with IAPP aggregation.

They have already found that it is possible to interfere with IAPP aggregation and toxicity using specifically-designed compounds.

The researchers hope that their research will lead to the development of new effective medication that is able to slow down, or even perhaps halt altogether, the progression of the disease.

This research is being funded by the under the Research Excellent Programmes “DIAMYLOID” and “MITOLIPID”.