Kei Sakamoto was a TV fitness presenter in Japan

Scientific researcher Kei Sakamoto's work has revealed how exercise can bring beneficial effects to people with diseases such as Type 2 diabetes.

Mr Sakamoto will receive the New Investigator Award for 2007 from the American Physiological Society.

The award recognises an "outstanding investigator" in their early career.

Mr Sakamoto, a programme leader in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit of the university's College of Life Sciences, was also awarded $1,000 (�500) and free entry registration at the society's annual meeting.

It is a great honour to receive such a prestigious award from the American Physiological Society Kei Sakamoto

The former TV fitness presenter has provided evidence that a molecular signalling pathway, known as LKB1-AMPK, plays a key role in controlling energy balance and glucose uptake in muscle during exercise.

Mr Sakamoto, who was a finalist in the National Aerobic Dance Competition in Japan, said: "I was an aerobics teacher and hosting a fitness program on TV in Japan, so I knew the benefits it (exercise) brought, and of course you are always hearing from doctors that exercise prevents obesity and keeps you fit and energetic.

"What I wanted to find out was how exercise 'signals' muscle to consume excess energy by taking up glucose from the blood, and to burn fat, at the molecular level."

Commenting on the award, Mr Sakamoto said: "It is a great honour to receive such a prestigious award from the American Physiological Society.