The Core Biochemical Assay Laboratory (CBAL)

The Addenbrooke’s Clinical Biochemistry R&D Laboratory was established in the 1980s by the late Prof C ‘Nick’ Hales to provide specialist assay support for his research interests, specifically the aetiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

The focus of the research was on the ‘thrifty phenotype hypothesis’. This proposed that poor early (foetal and possibly infant) growth was associated with permanent changes in the structure and function of organs which predispose the adult to the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes and the insulin resistance syndrome particularly in conjunction with adult obesity.

Publications arising from this research led to interest from other research groups. The R&D laboratory offered its analytical services to these groups as well.

These unique services included, not only Insulin and C-peptide assays, but also assays for insulin precursors. Using antibodies either created in-house, or gifted from commercial collaborators, these assays for intact proinsulin and split-proinsulin have been adapted for use on a high throughput automated platform, making them suitable for large epidemiological studies.

The list of publications associated with work conducted by the laboratory in this field, runs into the hundreds. In 2008 the R&D Laboratory was renamed as the Core Biochemical Assay Laboratory (CBAL).