Research

The FFRD is proud to allocate over 80% of its expenses to research and is pleased to support high-quality research in francophone diabetology for over a decade.

The basic research projects funded by the FFRD have addressed major themes related to both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, such as:

  • The protection and replacement of pancreatic beta cells,
  • Molecular mechanisms contributing to insulin resistance,
  • Implications of other key organs: the liver, adipose tissue, intestine,
  • The contribution of the microbiota to metabolic diseases.

The clinical research projects, on the other hand, have addressed themes related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes. They involve large multicenter cohort clinical studies, and their investigations are more mechanistic and/or interventional.

Several of the projects funded by the FFRD have specifically studied:

  • The role of the intestine and the microbiota
  • The role of epigenetics

The research projects supported by the FFRD complement the projects led by the SFD (French Society of Diabetes). These are large-scale, internationally oriented projects that primarily meet five criteria: scientific originality, feasibility, financial adequacy, scientific relevance of the project and international competitiveness.

Call for Projects

The FFRD has finalized the allocation of its Research Grants for 2024.

The FFRD scientific council met on October 15 for a day of interviews and, after deliberation, is pleased to inform you that this year 2 candidates are winners of an FFRD 2024 Research Grant, up to €300.000 each, making a total of €600.000 distributed!

The 6 candidates who were selected on October 7 for this oral presentation before the Scientific Council were :
  • Aurore CLAUDE-TAUPIN
  • Alfonso GALDERISI
  • Pierre GOURDY
  • Jean-Baptiste JULLA
  • Kristina SCHOONJAN
  • Sylvaine YOU

The 2 recipients of the FFRD 2024 Research Grants are:

  • Alfonso GALDERISI, MCU-PH, Robert Debré Hospital, Paris, with his clinical research projec : « Verapamil in preclinical type 1 diabetes: the VIP-1 study »,
  • Pierre GOURDY, CHU, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, with his translational research project: « Caracterizing adipose tissue dysfunction associated with obesity in patients with type 1 diabetes: towards an improved prediction of CV risk ».

The FFRD would like to congratulate them!

They will have the opportunity to present their respective research projects at our annual press webinar, to be held in the first quarter of 2025 (TBC).

This will also be an opportunity for the FFRD to provide an update on more than a decade of supporting diabetes research in the Francophone community !

Breaking news: New development for the 2025 call for projects…

Being sensitive to the interest that the candidates show in the FFRD’s calls for projects and understanding their desire to improve their applications for future submissions, the Scientific Council has approved an important change for the next FFRD call for projects, which will be, as every year, launched in mid-February.

In 2025, the experts’ feedback and recommendations will be shared with all the candidates!

Stay up-to-date with all our news and updates by visiting our website, and follow us on LinkedIn as well.

Submiting a project

2024 CALL FOR PROJETS CLOSED !

New call for projects next year in February!

Recipients

This year, two candidates are recipients of the FFRD Research Grants 2024:

Translational Research Project
Pierre GOURDY
Pierre GOURDY

Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases Institute, Inserm, CHU in Toulouse

Projet :

Characterizing adipose tissue dysfunction associated with obesity in patients with type 1 diabetes: towards an improved prediction of cardiovascular risk

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Alfonso GALDERISI
Alfonso GALDERISI

Robert Debré, Hospital, University Paris Cité

Projet :

Verapamil in Preclinical type 1 diabetes: the VIP-1 Study

Plus de détails

300 000 €

View formers recipients

FFRD’s receipients

Here are the former FFRD‘s recipients:

2023

Basic Research Project
Soraya TALEB
Soraya TALEB

PARCC, INSERM, Hôpital G. Pompidou, Paris

Projet :

Exploration and modulation of trained immunity in insulin resistance related to obesity.

Plus de détails

200 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Olivier BOURRON
Olivier BOURRON

INSERM, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris

Projet :

Impact of metformin on peripheral and coronary arterial calcifications in type 1 diabetes.

Plus de détails

200 000 €

Translational Research Project
Mikaël CROYAL
Mikaël CROYAL

INSERM, Institut du Thorax, Nantes

Projet :

Glycation of apolipoproteins in diabetes and its impact on cardiovascular diseases.

Plus de détails

200 000 €

2022

Basic Research Project
Soazig LE LAY
Soazig LE LAY

Inserm, Thorax Institute in Nantes (France)

Projet :

« Adiponectin-enriched extracellular vesicles: an innovative biotherapeutic approach for diabetes treatment ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Jacques BELTRAND
Jacques BELTRAND

Sick Children Necker Hospital in Paris (France)

Projet :

Project: « Evaluation of the effects of tight glycemic control on cognitive functions in children living with type 1 diabetes: comparison between open loop and closed loop insulin administration ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2021

Basic Research Project
Mariana IGOILLO-ESTEVE
Mariana IGOILLO-ESTEVE

Inserm, ULCB Center for Diabetes in Bruxelles (Belgium)

Projet :

« Unveiling the contribution of TRMT10A déficience-mediated tRNA fragmentation and impaire m6A methylation to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2020

Clinical Research Project
Rémi RABASA-LHORET
Rémi RABASA-LHORET

Montreal Clinical Research Institute – IRCM (Canada)

Projet :

« Identification of dysglycemia with continuous glucose monitoring: A prospective study to assess the relationship with clinical evolution in cystic fibrosis ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Basic Research Project
Julien DIANA
Julien DIANA

Inserm Research Director in Paris (Paris)

Projet :

« Reshaping the gut microbiota with antimicrobial peptides to prevent type 1 diabetes ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2019

Translational Research Project
Xavier PRIEUR
Xavier PRIEUR

University in Nantes (France)

Projet :

« Seipin deficiency as a model of adipocyte dysfunction ».

Plus de détails

150 000 €

Basic Research Project
Miriam CNOP
Miriam CNOP

Center for Diabetes Research – ULB in Brussels (Belgium)

Projet :

“Modeling Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Diabetes Using Human Beta Cells Derived from Stem Cells.”

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Kamel MOHAMMEDI
Kamel MOHAMMEDI

Faculty of Medicine – University Hospital in Bordeaux (France)

Projet :

« Prognostic determinants in patients with Diabetic Food ulcer – A French prospective multi center cohort ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Translational Research Project
Guillaume WALTHER
Guillaume WALTHER

Cardiovascular Laboratory University in Avignon (France)

Projet :

« Are non-nutritive sweeteners safe? To decipher the effect on glucose metabolism and vascular function ».

Plus de détails

150 000 €

2018

Translational Research Project
Hubert VIDAL
Hubert VIDAL

Inserm, Inra, University in Lyon (France)

Projet :

« PROBIODIAB: Probiotics as a new treatment for type 2 diabetes ». (video)

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Basic Research Project
Fabienne FOUFELLE
Fabienne FOUFELLE

Cordeliers Research Center in Paris (France)

Projet :

« Dihydrocermaides: novel actors involved in Non alcoholic fatty liver diseases and type 2 diabetes progression ». (video)

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Agnès LEHUEN
Agnès LEHUEN

Cochin Institute in Paris (France)

Projet :

« Crosstalk between MAIT cells and the gut microbe and mucosa in the development of type 1 diabetes in children ».(video)

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2017

Basic Research Project
Raphael SCHARFMANN
Raphael SCHARFMANN

Inserm Research Director in Paris (Paris)

Projet :

« Reconstructing human pancreatic organogenesis ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Philippe FROGUEL
Philippe FROGUEL

Regional University Hospital Center in Lille (France)

Projet :

« The epigenetic impact of gestational diabetes mellitus on mother type 2 diabetes risk and offspring health: a system biology ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2016

Translational Research Project
Nicolas VENTECLEF
Nicolas VENTECLEF

Inserm UMR_S1138, Cordeliers Research Center in Paris (France)

Projet :

« Decoding a specific epigenetic signature that sensitizes T2D susceptibility ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Emmanuel COSSON
Emmanuel COSSON

Jean Verdier Hospital in Bondy (France)

Projet :

” Reduction of insulin therapy under myo-inositol for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus: a Randomized Multicenter and Prospective Trial”.

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Basic Research Project
David DOMBROWICZ
David DOMBROWICZ

Inserm, Pasteur Institute in Lille (France)

Projet :

« Treg-specific regulation of T2 diabetes by the nuclear receptor RORalpha ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2015

Basic Research Project
Roberto MALLONE
Roberto MALLONE

Inserm, Cochin Institute in Paris (France)

Projet :

« Oral vaccination with preproinsulin coupled to Fc for the immunotherapy of type 1 diabetes. ».

Plus de détails

200 000 €

Clinical Research Project
François PATTOU
François PATTOU

University Hospital in Lille (France)

Projet :

« The role of intestine in type 2 diabetes remission after gastric bypass surgery ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Eugène SOBNGWI
Eugène SOBNGWI

Central Hospital in Yaounde (Cameroun)

Projet :

« Unravelling the pathophysiology of Comorbid Infectious diseases and DIAbetes: the CINDIA study ».

Plus de détails

150 000 €

Basic Research Project
Daniela COTA
Daniela COTA

Inserm, NeuroCenter Magendie in Bordeaux (France)

Projet :

« The hypothalamic bile acid membrane receptor TGR5 as novel mechanism underlying the role of bile acids in metabolic control ».

Plus de détails

150 000 €

2014

Translational Research Project
Rémy BURCELIN
Rémy BURCELIN

Inserm, Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse (France)

Projet :

« Characterization of the intestinal mucosal immune system in patients with visceral adiposity and type 2 diabetic: causal role of the corresponding microbiota ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Basic Research Project
Hélène DUEZ
Hélène DUEZ

Inserm, Pasteur Institute in Lille (France)

Projet :

« Role of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle Rev-erb-alpha in type 2 diabetes ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

2013

Basic Research Project
Romano REGAZZI
Romano REGAZZI

DFN University in Lausanne (Switzerland)

Projet :

« Role of long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in determining the phenotype of beta cells and the development of diabetes. ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Clinical Research Project
Blandine COMTE
Blandine COMTE

INRA Clermont-Ferrand/Theix (France)

Projet :

« Role of the long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in the acquisition of the phenotype of b-cells and the development of diabetes ».

Plus de détails

300 000 €

Talking about FFRD

The recipients supported by the FFRD speak about it…

Julien DIANA

PhD, Directeur de recherche INSERM, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Paris

Major role of the intestinal microbiota in the proper functioning of our immune system

Alterations in the intestinal microbiota have been associated with many autoimmune diseases, and in particular type 1 diabetes. The intestinal microbiota (IM) appears to be a relevant therapeutic target against diabetes and we propose to use molecules able of reshape it in order to prevent the development of diabetes. These molecules naturally secreted by cells of the intestinal epithelium belong to the family of antimicrobial peptides and play a major role in the construction and maintenance of a beneficial IM for its host. Thanks to the support of the FFRD, our project aims to determine the role of intestinal antimicrobial peptides in the development of autoimmune diabetes. Our hypothesis is that a defect in the expression of these peptides would lead to an inflammatory IM promoting the development of the disease. Using these peptides to correct the IM could therefore be a relevant therapeutic approach to prevent the onset of autoimmune diabetes in individuals at risk.

Rémi RABASA-LHORET

MD, PhD, Directeur de recherche, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (ICRM)

Rabasa-Lhoret-Rémi

Identify dysglycemia in patients with cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis) with continuous blood glucose reading

Patients with cystic fibrosis exhibit a broad spectrum of dysglycemia associated with an increased risk of accelerated clinical decline (weight loss and/or lung function decline) and the risk of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). However, the current screening test, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), is associated with multiple issues, including patient and healthcare team acceptance, costs, etc. The support of the FFRD will enable us to conduct a study to determine if continuous glucose monitoring simplifies the screening for CFRD and also predicts if patients are at a higher risk of weight loss and/or lung function decline. These results will better address questions about the use and interpretation of continuous glucose monitoring in clinical practice.

Miriam CNOP

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgique

Photo_CNOP-Miriam

Modeling endoplasmic reticulum stress and diabetes using human stem cell-derived β-cells

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the organelle of the pancreatic β-cell where insulin is synthesized. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress causes dysfunction and death of β-cells in monogenic forms of diabetes. In these rare forms of diabetes, the loss of genetic function of a protein disrupts ER stress signaling. In type 2 diabetes, environmental factors such as saturated free fatty acids induce ER stress in β cells. Research has long been hindered by limited access to human β cells. With the generous support of the FFRD, we will utilize the scientific breakthrough of differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells into β cells to better understand β cell failure induced by ER stress. This new model will also be used to identify and test therapeutic targets to protect β cells derived from stem cells in patients.

Emmanuel COSSON

CHU Avicenne-Bobigny, CHU Jean Verdier, Bondy

A food supplement to avoid insulin therapy in case of gestational diabetes?

Inositol, an organic molecule naturally present in the human body, is often associated with groupe B vitamins. It is a food supplement which is naturally found in many foods such as fruits (melon, strawberries, citrus), vegetables (cauliflowers, green peas), legumes (red beans, peas, lentils) but also in whole grains, oilseeds and finally in meat. Inositol is an intracellular mediator acting as a second messenger which decreases insulin resistance. There is a myoinositol deficiency in women with gestational diabetes and several randomized studies versus placebo have shown that it reduced by ⅔ or cases of gestational diabetes in women at risk, with a perfect safety profile and with our side effects. Thanks to the support of the FFRD, we started a randomized placebo-controlled study in women with gestational diabetes with the hypothesis of a reduction of at least 50% in the risk of needing insulin therapy during pregnancy to control diabetes. A revolution in the management of gestational diabetes if this hypothesis is confirmed!