Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and mothers-in-the-making.

Danish Diabetes and Endocrine (DDEA) are proud to support research projects that encompass a wide range of research aimed at supporting maternal, child, and family health.

From investigating the effects of assisted reproductive technology on children’s growth patterns to developing interventions to reduce barriers and distress during pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), each initiative addresses crucial aspects of maternal and child health.

Additionally, the exploration of biomarkers, metabolic changes, and family dynamics contributes to a comprehensive understanding of conditions like gestational diabetes and their long-term implications.

We also invite you to join us for our scientific networking event on maternal-fetal interactions in health and disease this September in Cambridge! Maternal-Fetal Interactions in Health and Disease: A DDEA-Cambridge Networking Event

Here are six DDEA grantees dedicated to improving the well-being of mothers and their families

Learn more about each research project by clicking on the project title.

Anna Kjær, MD

University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health Sciences

Project title: The role of the GH-IGF-I axis in large-for-gestational-age children conceived by assisted reproductive technology

Research aim: The aim is to determine the effect of endocrine growth factors, maternal metabolic profile, and placental function on intrauterine growth patterns as well as early postnatal body composition and metabolic profile in children born after assisted reproductive technology with frozen embryo transfer compared to children born after conventional fresh embryo transfer and naturally conceived children.

DDEA Grant: PhD Scholarship

Professor Carlos Salomon

Aalborg University, Dept. of Clinical Medicine

Project title: Biomarker discovery, training and validation,  Extracellular vesicles, Gestational Diabetes , metabolism, Ovarian Cancer, miRNAs, Proteomics

Research aim: The aims of this Visiting Researcher Grant are to elucidate the multifaceted roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in diagnosing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obesity, understanding mechanisms behind severe insulin resistance in pregnancy with glucose metabolic disorders (SIR-MET), and identifying placental dysfunction biomarkers and metabolic changes in pregnancies affected by small for gestational age, and providing comprehensive insights into EV-mediated processes across distinct metabolic contexts. 

Grant Type: DDEA Visiting Researcher Grant

Jori Aalders, MSc, PhD

Steno Diabetes Center Odense

Project title: INTENTION: An intervention development study to enhance pregnancy and early post-partum outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Research aim:The aim of this project is to develop an intervention to reduce/prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treatment barriers and psychological distress during pregnancies affected by GDM within the Danish health care setting to optimise pregnancy and child outcomes.

DDEA Grant: Postdoctoral Fellowship

Majken Pico, MSc

Aarhus University, Faculty of Health Sciences

Project title: Prevention of type 2 diabetes in young couples at high risk – Investigating shared risk and family dynamics among couples with a history of gestational diabetes

Research aim: The overall aim is to investigate the shared type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors among young couples, where the woman has a high risk of developing T2D due to a previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as to investigate the importance of social support and family dynamics in that context.

DDEA Grant: PhD Scholarship

Professor Patrick Catalano, MD

Aarhus University, Dept. of Endocrinology

Project title: Causes and CONseQUEnces of Metabolic DeRangement in Pregnancy – CONQUER

Research aim: The aim is to expand collaborative research in the area of stable isotopes and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps to better assess maternal metabolism in pregnancy. Further, because neonatal adiposity at birth has a strong relationship with childhood obesity, the project plans to use my expertise in neonatal body composition and use of air displacement plethysmography to better characterize fetal growth.

DDEA Grant: DDEA Visiting Researcher

Associate Professor Sharleen O’Reilly

Aarhus University, Dept. of Public Health

Project title: Developing a life course perspective framework for diabetes prevention after pregnancy

Research aim: This project focuses on a public health approach for the prevention of diabetes and other cardiometabolic disease in women and their families following gestational diabetes. It is centred on the (DOHaD) concept. 

DDEA Grant: DDEA Visiting Researcher

We are also proud of our Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA) (2012-2022) grantees who research maternal and child health. Find the DDA grant recipients here: DDA Grant Recipients | Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy (ddeacademy.dk)

Happy Mother’s Day!