Laboratory of Diabetology

Alina Babenko, MD, DSc
Head of Laboratory

The Laboratory of Diabetology was established at Almazov Centre in March 2011 as the Research Laboratory for Vascular Complications of Diabetes Mellitus. In December 2013, it was renamed as the Research Laboratory of Diabetology to cater to the need of growing scope of research.

Major research areas

Since the inception, the specialists have been involved in research of predicting, preventing and treatment of micro- and macro-vascular complications of diabetes mellitus; studying the mechanisms of hypoglycemic drugs and their pleiotropic effects.

Training and education

• Postgraduate cycles (Osteoporosis, Adrenal Gland Disease, Selected Issues of Endocrinology)
• Certification cycles (Topical Issues of Endocrinology, Gender Incongruence — Endocrine Aspects)

Participation in State Assignments

State assignment: Optimization of therapeutic approaches for type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (registration number 1022041300285-8-3.2.18). Completion period: 2022—2024.

Several PhD theses were defended as a result of the State Assignment research:

• Effect of the mechanisms of metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors on kidney in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with various stages of CKD and in animal experiments
• Prognostic value of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in myocardial infarction and the ways for correction
• Cardioprotective mechanisms of GLP-1 analogue in acute myocardial ischemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus using experimental models in animals

State Assignment: Automated decision support system for the management of diabetes mellitus

Jointly with the of specialists of Metabolic Syndrome Laboratory and Metabolic Surgery Laboratory, we participate in this Assignment and perform the following studies:

• Optimization of lipid-lowering therapy in DM patients considering the effect of antidiabetic drugs and other prognostic factors
• Disorders of small nerve fibers in patients with type 1 DM and the effect of pathogenetic therapy

Grants

• Development of new neuromodulation-based technologies for heart failure prevention and treatmentGrant Agreement No. 075-15-2020-800, Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, supervised by M. Galagudza, Director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine
• Establishment and development of the World-Class Research Centre for Personalized MedicineGrant Agreement No. 075-15-2020-901, Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, supervised by E. Shlyakhto, Director General
• Development of personalized treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in order to reduce cardiovascular risksGrant Agreement No. 17-75-30052, Russian Science Foundation, supervised by E. Shlyakhto, Director General

  The project aims to study the most significant predictors associated with the optimized response to various options of weight correction and antidiabetic drugs. It assesses the effectiveness of using psychological, hormonal, phenotypic and genetic predictors of response to therapy in different groups of weight-reducing and antihyperglycemic drugs based on the analysis of databases, clinical studies and data from our own research.

  It investigates the effects on dynamics of cardiovascular risk markers (state of the vascular wall, 2D stress-ECG, markers of fibrosis, inflammation) and clinical outcomes as well as the effect of different groups of weight-reducing and antidiabetic drugs on the dynamics of molecular-genetic markers of vascular damage, fat metabolism and gut microbiota.

  Work is underway to develop the automated information system for the selection of drug therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes based on a personalized approach (together with TechLAB). The system is based on the predictors and algorithms developed by the specialists of the Endocrinology Institute and relies on modern research data and gudelines for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Imaging of biological tissues (bioimaging) using magnetic nanoparticles and hyperosmotic agentsGrant Agreement No. 17-00-00275, Russian Foundation for Basic Research
• Minimally and non-invasive diagnosis and therapy of socially significant diseases by electromagnetic radiation in the IR and THz frequency rangeGrant Agreement No. 074-U01, Government of the Russian FederationKey results: optical properties of body fluids and exhaled air were studied by terahertz spectroscopy in patients with diabetes mellitus and participants without any carbohydrate metabolism disorders with different biochemical blood parameters.

  Other achievements

  Participation in the development of Male Infertility Guidelines (approved in 2019) Thesis supervision

  The specialists of the Laboratory of Diabetology are defending the following theses under the expert scientific advice:

  Optimizing the choice of GLP-1 drugs or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

  Studying the mechanisms of cardioprotective drugs belonging to sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 inhibitors – dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high CVD risk

  Morpho-functional features of pancreatic endocrinocytes in long-term therapy with incretin-mimetics in type 2 diabetes mellitus

  Studying the effect of liraglutide therapy on the adipose tissue metabolism and dynamics of inflammation markers and oxidative stress in obese patients

  Prognostic value of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in myocardial infarction and treatments options

  Identification of efficiency predictors and influence mechanisms of neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor and high-protein diet on the adipose tissue metabolism

  Clinical and pathogenetic features of small nerve fiber disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

  Clarification of the metabolic effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity with BMI >30 kg / m2. Therapy response predictor.

  Thesis supervision

The specialists of the Laboratory of Diabetology are defending the following theses under the expert scientific advice:

• Studying the mechanisms of cardioprotective drugs belonging to sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 inhibitors – dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and high CVD risk
• Morpho-functional features of pancreatic endocrinocytes in long-term therapy with incretin-mimetics in type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Studying the effect of liraglutide therapy on the adipose tissue metabolism and dynamics of inflammation markers and oxidative stress in obese patients
• Prognostic value of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in myocardial infarction and treatments options
• Identification of efficiency predictors and influence mechanisms of neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor and high-protein diet on the adipose tissue metabolism
• Clinical and pathogenetic features of small nerve fiber disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Clarification of the metabolic effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with BMI ≥30 kg / m2. Therapy response predictors