Bile acid and microbes as the guardians of health

Prince Dadson is studying the effect of bile acid and intestinal microbes on obesity and type 2 diabetes at the University of Turku. The aim of the research is to develop medicines that can be used to treat these lifestyle diseases more effectively than before.

“Bile acid regulates our glucose and lipid metabolism, which in turn affects the composition of the micro-organisms in our intestines. However, the composition of the micro-organisms also seems to improve the conditions required to activate bile acid. This is why I am particularly interested in the effect of the interaction between these two different factors on obesity and type 2 diabetes. The single interesting issue for which I’m seeking solutions in my study is the effect of bile acid and microbes on the remission of diabetes after weight loss caused by weight reduction surgery,” Dadson says about his research.

In spring 2022, the Instrumentarium Science Foundation awarded Dadson a personal post-doc grant of EUR 30,000 to support his research. 

More effective and safer medicines

Prince Dadson is a researcher with years of experience in metabolism and the metabolic consequences of obesity. He has a PhD in clinical physiology and nuclear medicine. He also holds a master's degree in biomedical sciences. He intends to continue his career as a scientist in metabolic research.

“The research is currently in the data collection phase. We are collecting tissue samples from our participants and performing biomolecule analyses of them. We hope that the biomarkers obtained through these analyses will help us develop more effective, safer drugs to treat obesity, diabetes, and the related complications,” explains Dadson.

Improving opportunities to conduct research

The Instrumentarium Science Foundation promotes and supports Finnish research on medicine, as well as that related to technical and natural science equipment and methods. The Foundation also supports economic research in the abovementioned areas. The Science Foundation awards several grants each year. Over the last few years, the Foundation has purposefully increased the total number of grants awarded. Applications are always scientifically evaluated by impartial experts appointed by the Foundation's Board of Directors.

“I received a post-doc grant from the Instrumentarium Science Foundation in spring 2022. It has enabled me to promote my research on bile acid, intestinal microbes, type 2 diabetes and metabolism. I’ve been able to focus better on my research work because it has enabled me to pay my daily-life expenses," Dadson says.

Text: Kai Tarkka
Translation: Alice Lehtinen
Picture: University of Turku