Researchers in Ireland and the US are to examine DNA samples from 20,000 people with diabetes in an attempt to identify the genetic factors associated with diabetic kidney disease.

While kidney disease can affect anyone, it is more common in people with diabetes, particularly those who have had the condition for over 20 years. An estimated 30-40% of people with diabetes develop kidney complications and diabetic kidney disease is currently the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide.

A five-year research project at Queen's University Belfast is hoping to explain why some people with diabetes have a higher risk than others of developing kidney failure.

The researchers believe this project will provide important information that could allow for more personalised preventative care in those whose genetic profile puts them at risk of developing kidney-related complications.

The project involves diabetes and genetics researchers from Queen's University, University College Dublin, the University of Helsinki in Finland and the Broad Institute in the US.

"The research team will study DNA from 20,000 people from all around the world with three main aims. Firstly, we will explore important variations in DNA to discover why some people with diabetes are at higher risk of kidney failure compared with others who seem to be protected from developing this complication.

"Secondly, we hope to better understand how having a poor control of diabetes - high blood sugars over a long period of time - can lead to the re-programming of DNA and an increased risk of kidney failure. Thirdly, we aim to develop new tests that could be used to screen people with diabetes to assess their risk of developing kidney complications and help select the best preventative treatment," explained Prof Peter Maxwell of Queen's.

The project is part of a new US-Ireland research partnership. This is a unique arrangement involving funding agencies in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US, who will combine resources and enable the best researchers to work together in an attempt to improve patient care.