Mission and aim

The purpose of Steno Diabetes Center: to treat people with diabetes and research in diabetes and related metabolic conditions.

The mission: to make a significant contribution to furthering knowledge of the aetiology, pathogeneses, treatment and prevention of type 1 and type 2 diabetes through basic and applied research within the areas of genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, physiology, biomedicine, clinical intervention studies, epidemiology, biostatistics and public health.

It is our goal through these efforts:
• to identify therapeutic goals and develop strategies for the prevention and early detection of diabetes and other phenotypes of the metabolic syndrome
• to identify therapeutic goals for the prevention and treatment of late diabetic complications through studies of genetic and non-genetic mechanisms leading to micro- and macrovascular complications
• to optimise new and existing treatments and intervention strategies through clinical trials and pharmacogenetic studies in order to improve the prognosis and quality of life of persons with diabetes and other phenotypes of the metabolic syndrome.
• to ensure the transferring of scientific achievements to clinically applicable treatment strategies and, in turn, to ensure that new research-based knowledge is implemented in clinical practice

Organisation in research groups/teams
To fulfil this vision, three strategic research areas and a development area have been established, each with their own head of research.

The strategic research areas include
1. Genetic and molecular mechanisms in defective beta cells
2. Genetic, cellular, physiological and behavioural mechanisms that lead to diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.
3. Prevention and treatment of diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes.

The development area primarily concerns translational research, transferring of knowledge and findings from clinical research to clinical practice. This research is directed towards strengthening the individual patient’s possibilities of optimal diabetes management through self-care and empowerment. This research activity is mainly founded in nursing research.

A new strategy is currently under preparation (28.08.08)