June 2007 eUpdate

Research News

UCSF's Immune Tolerance Network receives second round of major support
On May 3, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases announced that it would renew funding for the Immune Tolerance Network, the international research consortium based at the Diabetes Center at UCSF. Headed by Diabetes Center Director Jeffrey Bluestone, PhD, the seven-year-old organization conducts clinical trials worldwide to study novel immune tolerance strategies against a variety of immunologic conditions, notably including type 1 diabetes, as well as islet transplantation.

Multiple studies identify genetic risks of developing type 2 diabetes
Speaking at UCSF, University of Michigan biostatistics professor Michael Boehnke discussed the search for genes involved in the development of type 2 diabetes. Ten variants of genes were recently reported to cause a genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Researchers hope studies such as this will eventually be able to predict diabetes risk and provide a roadmap for preventative treatments. [more]

Lifestyle

World adventurer takes living with diabetes to new heights
On May 23, 2006, Will Cross became the first person with diabetes to reach the top of Mount Everest, completing his dream of being the first person to reach both the North and South poles and scale the Seven Summits. In diaTribe Magazine, UCSF Diabetes Educator Gloria Yee writes about Will's inspirational accomplishments (reprinted with permission).

News & Notes

John Baxter, M.D. receives The Endocrine Society’s highest award
The Endocrine Society is giving its highest award, the Fred Conrad Koch Award, to Diabetes Center founding member John Baxter, M.D. at its annual meeting June 2 – 5 in Toronto. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to endocrinology.

Doug Hanahan elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Diabetes Center researcher Doug Hanahan, Ph.D., was elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in recognition of his contributions to diabetes and cancer research. He joins 4,000 American fellows of this interdisciplinary research center that has studied complex and emerging policy issues since 1780. [more about Doug Hanahan]

Diabetes Center Events

Patient Symposium great success, spreads hope and motivation
Word is spreading about the UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center Patient Symposium, which drew nearly 200 attendees this spring, up from 120 the previous year. The morning-long meeting at the Laurel Heights campus featured seven talks by UCSF faculty and staff about diabetes research, treatment and management. Copies of their presentations are available for download, and a DVD video of the talks is available to all.

Diabetes Center’s Hebrok to speak at JDRF meeting
UCSF beta cell regeneration researcher Matthias Hebrok, Ph.D., will be a featured speaker at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Annual Research Meeting on June 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. Hebrok, a founding member of the Diabetes Center, was named a JDRF Scholar in 2006.

Clinical Trials

The Diabetes Center at UCSF is among the premier institutions for clinical trials of emerging therapies in diabetes. No less than ten clinical trials in type 1 and 2 diabetes are now underway!

Interested in participating? A sample of our trials currently enrolling patients

Islet transplantation with Raptiva, for type 1 diabetes
Seeking volunteers 18 and older, with type 1 diabetes and weighing less than 175 lbs

For more opportunities, visit the Clinical Trials section of our website, or contact Kathleen Fraser, our Clinical Trials Recruitment Coordinator at kfraser@diabetes.ucsf.edu.