Christmas 2023

As the year draws to a close, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the team's achievements in 2023. Your support and hard work have been instrumental in our journey, and we are delighted to share some remarkable news from the past year.

The University of Leicester promoted Charlotte Edwardson and David Webb to Professors for their excellent contributions towards improving the lives of people living with diabetes. Both have shown remarkable dedication and made a significant impact on diabetes research. This recognition is well-deserved, and we celebrate their achievement.

We are also pleased to welcome two new professors to our team this year. Professor Claire Meek brings with her extensive experience in managing diabetes during pregnancy for women with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Professor Louise Goff specialises in the role of diet and lifestyle in preventing and managing type 2 diabetes, both further expanding on the expertise here in the LDC. Now we have nine professorships covering almost all aspects of diabetes research and care, meaning the LDC has one of the strongest academic leadership teams in the world.

Laura Willcocks won the Compassionate Leader Award at the UHL Recognition Awards for her exceptional commitment to compassionate leadership here at the LDC.

The NIHR Patient Recruitment Centre: Leicester has been awarded an 18-month contract extension. This demonstrates the valuable role the PRCs play in reinforcing the UK's ability to deliver commercial research, and in using innovative techniques for recruiting participants.

Dr Francesco Zaccardi received the Rising Star Award at the 16th International Primary Care Diabetes Europe Conference for his excellence in diabetes research.

The EDEN team launched 'on the go' diabetes education, expanding their reach to provide healthcare workers with valuable resources for information and support.

MyDesmond, our digital platform for self-managing type 2 diabetes, has reached a significant milestone of 40,000 users, highlighting its positive impact on the health of people living with type 2 diabetes.

Research income continues to grow, an example of this is Dr Alex Rowlands who has received £265,000 from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for his participation in the 'Learning network for Advanced Behavioural Data Analysis' (LABDA) project. LABDA is part of the Horizon Europe program and aims to develop new methods for advanced 24/7 movement behaviour data analysis using sensor-based data.

We would also like to acknowledge the retirement of Anne Rodgers, Alison Caputo, Lisa Sinfield, Helen Dallosso and June James in 2023.

As we celebrate these achievements and look forward to the new year, we extend our deepest appreciation for your continued support and collaboration. We hope you have a chance to rest and reset over the next two weeks.

Best wishes for Christmas and Happy New Year!