Spotlight on Dimitris Papamargaritis, Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology.
Associate Professor Dimitris Papamargaritis
Dimitris graduated in Medicine from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, in 2007 and went on to obtain his PhD on gut hormone changes after bariatric (weight loss) surgery from University of Thessaly in Larisa, Greece, in 2015.
He explains: “My PhD allowed me to obtain expertise in gut hormones that affect the appetite, which are the hormones used currently for the development of the majority of the new medications as treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes.”
Dimitris came to Leicester as a National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellow in 2013 and later joined the Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) as part of his fellowship in 2015.
“I joined LDC due to the expertise and research into type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as the international reputation of the Centre”, Dimitris explains.
“The best thing about working in LDC is the variety of people with different expertise and skills who provide support. Also, the international standing of the leadership team and the collaborative environment.
“Meeting Professor Melanie Davies and her wider team was a key moment in my career that contributed to my progression as it helped me significantly to understand the importance of working with people with diverse skills. Melanie has also been of great support and mentor to me”, he adds.
Today Dimitris’s research focuses on the following areas:
Clinical trials for new medicines being developed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, assessing if they are safe and effective in different populations and in different obesity-related complications, as well as understanding how the medicines work.
Potential treatments for post-bariatric surgery hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), which is a common and disabling complication of bariatric surgery.
It's easy to see why Dimitris believes his work is important to help people with, or at risk of, developing diabetes. Around 90% of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are also living with overweight or obesity. Research has shown that interventions such as bariatric surgery that result in early and sustained weight loss can lead to both a sustained return to normal glucose levels (euglycaemia), and to a reduction in diabetes-related complications.
Medicines that can help to treat obesity are becoming nearly as effective as bariatric surgery while being less invasive. There is a huge pipeline of new medications* for obesity and type 2 diabetes that may be approved in the future. Dimitris’s research aims to support the early treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes and to assess further potential benefits of the new medications for obesity.
To help doctors navigate the future of obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments, Dimitris has produced a graphic which plots 19 ongoing studies and their outcomes. The explanatory graphic has been included as part of a recently published review. The graphic is available on our website: https://www.leicesterdiabetescentre.org.uk/news-blog/2024/6/20/graphic-helps-doctors-navigate-future-of-type-2-diabetes-treatment
Dimitris is keen to work towards ensuring equal access to innovative diabetes treatments. He also works at Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where he hopes to share his research expertise with others. He adds: “I hope to support Kettering General Hospital to develop a strong research culture by conducting high quality research trials in the areas of obesity, type 2 diabetes and obesity-related complications.”
Professor Melanie Davies, Co-Director of LDC, said: “With increasing numbers of people in the UK being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and living with multiple long-term conditions, this area of research is important.
“Dimitris is an asset to our team here in Leicester. His joint role with Kettering General Hospital will help to extend this research and the benefits of these new treatments to communities in and around Kettering.”
In April 2023 Dimitris’s daughter, Anna Maria was born. Dimitris said: “This was a key moment in my personal life. Anna Maria brings joy and happiness to me and my wife.”