Dundee diabetes centre to benefit from £14.5m fund

• Dundee University’s diabetes centre exceeds £3 million fundraising target by £500,000

• Campaign aimed at improving medical research facilities and treatment methods

The Diabetes Research Campaign was launched in 2007 to help support the development of research into the cause and treatment of diabetes. The campaign has now drawn to a close, with £3.5million raised directly and a further £11million secured in follow-on funding.

Michael Archibald, the Perth businessman who chaired the campaign, said: “In completing the funding towards this campaign I would like to thank all those who gave of their time, effort and money towards diabetic research in Tayside.

“From swimming across the Tay, to concerts in the new Perth Concert Hall to holding marathons in Dundee, so many people and organisations became more involved in moving our fund along until it reached its total.

“Everyone has helped us achieve a goal that required a tremendous community effort and as a diabetic I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their interest in what is still a very worrying and difficult condition.”

The campaign is aimed at improving clinical research facilities at the Perth Royal Infirmary and Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, and creating a dedicated Diabetes Translational Research Institute in the city, ”translating” basic science in the laboratory into better treatment for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Dr Rory McCrimmon, who leads a Type 1 diabetes research team at the university, said: “Until we do find the cure - which is very much a when and not an if - we are passionate about developments in treatments which minimise the complications for people who have type 1 diabetes. We are proud that, with research projects like this, Scotland is fast becoming the centre for research into type 1 diabetes.”