January 2007 eUpdate
A New Year's Message from Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone
As we wrap up another year and begin a new one, I thought I'd reflect on where we are currently positioned in the vast landscape of diabetes.... [more]
Research News
Discovery that autoimmune disease can be triggered early on in the thymus gland
If T cells fail to recognize just one of the body's thousands of proteins as “self”, it can trigger autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. The Diabetes Center 's Mark Anderson, MD PhD is the senior investigator of a paper published last month in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Novel treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes
John Baxter, MD and Paul Webb, PhD are focused on studying the thyroid hormone which regulates overall metabolic rate, heart function and cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Elevated levels of the thyroid hormone leads to increases in metabolic rate and associated rapid weight loss, and also improves cholesterol and triglyceride balance – yet may also produce increased heart rate and arrhythmias. Expect to see a number of exciting findings published in 2007. Also in 2007 – Dr. Baxter will be receiving the Koch Award from the prestigious, international Endocrine Society. This is the society's highest honor and only a small handful of endocrinologists over the past century have been both the president of the society and a Koch Award recipient.
NIH releases strategic plan to guide type 1 diabetes research
By involving renowned diabetes researchers around the country including Diabetes Center Director Jeffrey Bluestone, the National Institutes of Health has identified six (6) goals to pursue in the next decade. For a copy of this report, contact Kevin McAteer at kmcateer@support.ucsf.edu.
Diabetes in the News
“Dogs for Diabetics” help to train man's best friend to sense low blood sugars
UCSF diabetes clinical nurse specialist Mary Sullivan is quoted in this story on how specially trained dogs can pick up the scent of low blood sugars, as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Demand for first fellowships awarded by California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is huge
CIRM, the voter-established institute created by Prop 71, awarded $12.1 million in grants to cover the first year of three-year training fellowships. UCSF received 16 grants totaling just over $1.1 million. The number of applications received was sizeable, as reported by the San Francisco Business Times.
Clinical Trials News
Interested in clinical trials of type 1 or type 2 diabetes? The Diabetes Center at UCSF is among the premier institutions for clinical trials of emerging therapies in diabetes. No less than ten clinical trials are now underway! Visit the Clinical Trials section of our website for more information, or contact Kathleen Fraser, our Clinical Trials Recruitment Coordinator at kfraser@diabetes.ucsf.edu.
You can help...
Support the Diabetes Center's research by making an on-line donation! Visit our donation website and designate your gift to "The Diabetes Center" or contact Kevin McAteer at (415) 476-3627.
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