Research at Lund University

In recent years, Lund University has been successful in obtaining large research grants. Over SEK 4 billion is awarded annually to research at eight faculties, which gives Lund University one of the strongest and broadest ranges of research in Sweden.

The successes can largely be attributed to the interdisciplinary research that is carried out and the diversity that the University has to offer.

Cross-boundary collaboration on regional, national and global levels can help researchers to find solutions to the major issues of our time and of the future. Interdisciplinary collaborations at the University have grown in line with the need to meet increasingly complex problems facing society.

In the Research series "Up Close", Lund University presents a feature on a particular research area. The features include articles about latest developments within the specific research area.  

Diabetes "Up Close"

Anton part of the key to diabetes mystery

When Anton was born, a test was done on the umbilical cord which showed that he had a raised genetic risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Since then he has been one of several thousand children participating in Teddy, a study which is expected to lead to a better understanding of the disease and to a vaccine. Read the full article.

Diabetes - A difficult riddle to solve

Type 2 diabetes has increased at an explosive rate in recent decades and is today one of the most prevalent chronic diseases threatening people’s health around the world. The greatest increase has been seen in countries such as India and China, as well as in the Middle East.

“We know that people’s genes have not changed in recent decades, so it must be something in the environment, in our lifestyle, that leads to an increasing number of people developing the disease”, says Professor Leif Groop, who works at the Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology at Lund University. Read the full article.

Obesity operations a mystery for diabetes researchers

Within just a few days of having obesity surgery, the majority of patients cease to suffer from type 2 diabetes. At the Lund University Diabetes Centre, a research group is trying to get to grips with the apparently inexplicable connection. It is hoped that in the long run a cure could be developed. Read full article.

Sunlight could reduce risk of diabetes

 Many people spend most of their life indoors. We work indoors during the day, perhaps sit in front of the television or computer in the evenings and go to bed late. This disrupts our natural body clock and in the long run could lead to obesity and diseases such as diabetes.

“I think a disrupted body clock disrupts the metabolism much more than we are aware.” These are the words of Mona Landin-Olsson, a professor and consultant at Lund University who works at the Medical Clinic in Helsingborg.

“In the summer, diabetes patients usually need around 10 per cent lower insulin doses than in winter. This could be because they exercise more and eat lighter food in the summer. However, the same effect can be seen, for example, on a short sunshine holiday to Thailand.” Read the full article.

Molecular link between diabetes and cancer described

The fact that diabetes raises the risk of certain types of cancer is already well known, but the reasons have been unclear. Now researchers at Lund University Diabetes Centre in Sweden have mapped a molecular link that explains the connection between these two widespread diseases.Read the full article.