Dr. David Hill

Environmental factors such as nutrition during pregnancy may influence the risk of children developing diabetes decades later in life, believes Dr. David Hill a professor in the Departments of Medicine, Physiology & Pharmacology and Paediatrics at The University of Western Ontario and Scientific Director of the Lawson Health Research Institute.

The objective of Hill’s research is to determine why low birth weight, such as results from poor maternal nutrition or placental dysfunction, is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes in adulthood. He believes nutrition during pregnancy could also be at the root of many more conditions which develop during life.

Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough of the hormone insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin, produced in islet cells, is found in the pancreas. Slower fetal growth changes how the pancreas develops, including the development of insulin-producing islet cells. The result is fewer beta cells and inadequate insulin release.

Scientists have found the pancreas also contains stem cells. These stem cells act as master cells, which have the ability to turn into replacement islet cells and help the gland remodel to meet metabolic challenges through life. Hill’s research examines the effects of diet on the development of these pre-islet stem cells. Together with his research team, he has developed a technique that would use stem-cells harvested from the diabetic patient to produce the pancreatic islet tissue in the lab.

"The research demonstrates the potential of harvesting stem cells from donor tissues, rather from the early embryo," says Hill. "Understanding how to isolate stem cells and induce their differentiation into insulin producing islets cells would help make islet transplantation widely available to diabetics."

Hill and his team believe it will be possible to develop and grow sufficient numbers of islet cells and transplant them back into patients with Type 1 diabetes. There is also proof that targeted regeneration of islets could be achieved within the body.

Hill is a researcher recognized internationally for his work in the area of diabetes. In addition to his roles at Western and Lawson, he serves as Vice-President, Research at St. Joseph's Health Care, London. He also serves as Scientific Advisor to the National Board of the Canadian Diabetes Association, and chairs its National Research Committee. He is a senior editor of the Journal of Endocrinology and a recipient of the Medal of the Society for Endocrinology.

For further information, please contact Dr. David Hill using the Email contact form or by phone at 519 663-3551