Diabesity : a world-wide challenge : towards a global initiative on gene-environment interactions in diabetes/obesity in specific populations

Diabetes causes severe health complications and is the fifth leading cause of death world-wide. The number of people suffering from type 2 diabetes is set to rise to some 900 million globally by 2030, with devastating health and economic implications. To counter this scenario, increasing attention is given to research into environmental and genetic risk factors for diabetes and obesity in specific populations. Under its current Research Framework Programme, the European Union supports a series of major scientific projects to better understand and combat type 2 diabetes. The Health Directorate of the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation organised the conference DIABESITY-A World-Wide Challenge, in Brussels on 9-10 February 2012. This conference brought together, leading scientists in the field, national funding agencies from different parts of the world, national, European and international policy-makers, other key players in the field. The conference took this approach further by presenting the state of play and exploring opportunities for even greater international cooperation and new partnerships.