Mission Statement

"Our vision is to make significant contributions to the global burden of diabetes and obesity through research and dissemination of knowledge"

Annual Reports

2010:	ENCDOR Annual Report 2010 (PDF, 58.5 KB)
2009:	ENCDOR Annual Report 2009 (PDF, 106 KB)
2008:	ENCDR Annual Report 2008 (PDF, 1.5 MB) Karitane Products Society (KPS) Annual Report 2008 (PDF, 75 KB)
2007:	ENCDR Annual Report 2007 (PDF, 217 KB) Karitane Products Society (KPS) Annual Report 2007 (PDF, 116 KB)
2006:	ENCDR Annual Report 2006 (PDF, 165 KB)
2005:	ENCDR Annual Report 2005 (PDF, 148 KB)

Posters

Outline of ENCDR structure and function Displayed at the International Diabetes Foundation Western Pacific Region Congress, Wellington 2008 View PDF Acrobat Poster 1.0 MB

The Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research (ENCDR) was established as part of the University of Otago Advancement Campaign and officially opened its doors on the 12th November 2003.  In 2009, given that many of our projects relate to prevention and treatment of obesity, we reflected this in the name of our centre, now the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research (ENCDOR). The purpose of the ENCDOR is to promote collaborative research amongst those involved in diabetes-related research in departments in the University of Otago, and to facilitate collaboration where appropriate with researchers and health care providers throughout New Zealand and internationally. The research conducted at the centre involves a range of disciplines, including nutrition, epidemiology, health services research, Māori health, biostatistics, public health, microbiology, genetics and biochemistry.

Our research aims to reduce the incidence of diabetes and its complications by finding new ways to prevent and manage diabetes. The key objectives are:

• to undertake excellent research in the field of diabetes
• to promote and facilitate national and international collaboration amongst researchers in the field of diabetes
• to assist and participate in guideline and policy development at local, national and international levels
• to share diabetes knowledge and skills at community, teaching and professional levels
• to develop cultural competencies in the field of diabetes research

The ENCDOR, led by Professor Jim Mann, has an Advisory Group which oversees the centre's activities. The Advisory Group is chaired by Mr Eion Edgar, benefactor of the ENCDR and includes representatives from Diabetes New Zealand Inc, Auckland Diabetes Centre, School of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Otago, Wellington, School of Medicine & Health Sciences University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Auckland, Ngai Tahu, New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes and the Ministry of Health.

Funding

The ENCDR was initially established in 2003 following a generous donation from the Edgar family.  A number of anonymous donors also contributed.  These donations were matched by Government funding.  In 2006, a donation from the Karitane Products Society (KPS) facilitated the establishment on a Senior Research Fellowship in Early Childhood Obesity.

Other financial support is received through research grants.  A 6-year programme grant is funded by the Health Research Council.  Funding bodies of other research projects include Lottery Health Research, the National Heart Foundation, the Southern Trust, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, the Community Trust of Otago, and the University of Otago.

Asking The Questions

Despite much research being undertaken worldwide, many questions remain regarding the most appropriate ways of tackling the epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Issues currently being explored include:

• The extent to which intensive lifestyle modification can further improve diabetes control and risk of complications in those on maximum drug treatment (the LOADD study)
• The development of a new sensitive test to identify insulin resistance in the general population (development of new clinical test for insulin sensitivity)
• Whether improving school playgrounds can enhance physical activity and reduce obesity in primary school children (the Play study)
• How to best inform parents that their child is overweight, in a manner which increases the likelihood of appropriate behaviour change (the MInT study)

Implementing the Answers

The application of research results is often challenging. The ENCDOR is committed to seeing the results of quality research, both national and international, incorporated effectively into the clinical setting, as well as implemented in the community. The ENCDOR is involved in a number of groundbreaking applied research studies, including:

• Ngāti and Healthy - A collaborative programme with Ngāti Porou Hauora aimed at reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases in a high risk Māori community.
• Apple (A Pilot Programme of Lifestyle and Exercise) - A community-based programme, one of the first worldwide, to demonstrate the potential of lifestyle interventions to reduce excessive weight gain in children.

Informing, Advising and Collaborating

Members of the ENCDOR are involved in teaching medicine and nutrition students, supervising MSc and PhD students and informing lay and professional groups regarding diabetes and obesity. They collaborate with other researchers round the world and chair or serve on advisory groups to national and international organisations including: