SEMINAR: �The islet beta cell in Type 2 diabetes � why it is important and what we can do to save it."

Sof Andrikopoulos is a NH&MRC Senior Research Fellow/Associate Professor and Head of the Islet Biology and Metabolism Research Group at the University of Melbourne Department of Medicine (Austin Health) which investigates the genetic susceptibility of islet dysfunction using animal models of diabetes. This research has lead to the hypothesis that increased insulin secretory demand may be a mechanism that contributes to diabetes and that strategies that promote metabolic deceleration may be beneficial. This has clinical implications since a common class of drug used to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes causes increased insulin secretion and in fact may be detrimental in the long term. Dr Andrikopoulos has had grant support from the NH&MRC since 2000, is a Senior Editor of the Journal of Endocrinology, on the editorial board of Journal of Nutrition on the JDRF/Australia Islet Transplantation Program Advisory Committee, has served on NH&MRC Grant Review Panels and regularly reviews manuscripts for leading journals in the field including Diabetes and Diabetologia. He was awarded a NH&MRC Award for Research Excellence in 2008 and a Diabetes Australia Research Trust Millennium Award in 2010.