Previous studies indicate that energy metabolism in the liver in patients with type 2 diabetes is impaired and is associated with a fatty liver and insulin resistance. The research of Sofiya Gancheva has now shown that this may also be the case in patients with type 1 diabetes. The results indicate that this impairment of the hepatic energy metabolism could be considered an early symptom of concomitant liver disease in people with type 1 diabetes. “The project headed by Dr. Gancheva is a good example of the excellent research projects that are carried out at the DDZ,” said Prof. Dr. Michael Roden, scientific director and board member of the DDZ. “We therefore thank the North Rhine-Westphalian Society for Endocrinology and Diabetology for the recognition of this research and for the promotion of our young researchers.” 
Sofiya Gancheva studied medicine from 2006 to 2013 at the Medical University in Sofia. Since 2013 she has been a clinical studies physician at the German Diabetes Center and has been responsible for various clinical studies such as EmLiFa001 and Bariatrix. In the EmLiFa001 study, the effect of a new antidiabetic agent on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is characterized by deposits of fat in the liver cells, is studied in patients with type 2 diabetes. In the Bariatrix study, the focus is on investigating the short-term, intermediate and long-term effects of bariatric surgery on energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity of severely obese patients.
The North Rhine-Westphalian Society for Endocrinology and Diabetology confers the Karl Oberdisse Award each year for the best clinical-experimental research paper in the field of endocrinology and diabetology. Applications are open to physicians or scientists who have mainly conducted their research in North Rhine-Westphalia. The award is endowed with 5000 euros. The award is named after Prof. Dr. Karl Oberdisse (1903-2002), who had a considerable influence on German endocrinology and diabetology. He held the chair for Internal Medicine at the University of Düsseldorf and in 1965 founded the Diabetes Research Institute (DFI) at the University of Düsseldorf. This institute, which he headed from 1964 to 1973, has since 2004 been operating under the name German Diabetes Center (DDZ).

* “Variations in Genes Controlling Oxidative Metabolism Contribute to Lower Hepatic ATP Independent of Liver Fat Content in Type 1 Diabetes”