Health of Māori and Pacific women: Relationships between CREBRF genotype and metabolic resilience

Theresa Alipia

School of Biological Sciences

Supervisors: Rinki Murphy, Jennifer Miles-Chan and Karaponi Okesene-Gafa

Abstract

Recent studies have shown women with previous GDM progresses to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) later in life and cardiovascular disease. Given the shared etiology of T2D and GDM, and Mthe high rates of T2D and obesity in Māori and Pacific women, identifying preventative methods to combat the development of GDM and T2D, should be made a priority. This project investigates the CREBRF gene variant which is uniquely seen among people of Māori and Pacific ancestry in relation to GDM and other cardiovascular risk factors affecting women of childbearing age.