March 2009 eUpdate
Research News
STEM CELL BUILDING NAMED In December, the Institute for Regeneration Medicine at UCSF was renamed the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine at a press conference attended by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chair of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (and Diabetes Center Leadership Council Member) Robert Klein, generous philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, and university leaders. The building, designed by renowned architect Raphael Vinoly, will bring together 25 labs involved in various areas of human and animal embryonic and adult stem cell and related early-cell studies. A number of Diabetes Center researchers are expected to be relocated in this building when it is completed in mid-2010. [ news article] [ website]
DIABETES AUTOANTIBODIES INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO PREDICT TYPE 1 Researchers at the Barbara Davis Center in Denver have identified a fourth autoantibody to help predict type 1 diabetes, ZnT8. This autoantibody, in combination with the others that had been previously identified, has raised our ability to detect “pre-diabetes” to 98 percent. We at UCSF are proud that one of our own researchers, Steinunn Baekkeskov, PhD, is considered one of the pioneers in type 1 diabetes prediction, having been involved in discovering two of the previous three autoantibodies. [ Baekkeskov ]
Clinical News
TRIALNET NATURAL HISTORY STUDY SCREENING – SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH Does someone in your family have type 1 diabetes? If so, other family members may be at risk for developing diabetes. UCSF is offering a free simple blood test for relatives of people with type 1 diabetes. The test could detect an increased risk for type 1 diabetes up to ten years before symptoms appear. Testing is important because if someone is at increased risk, they may be eligible to join research studies that are exploring ways to prevent and delay type 1 diabetes. The free testing will be offered to relatives who are 1 to 45 years old (some restrictions apply) on Saturday, March 7th at the UCSF Pediatric Clinical Research Center (6th Floor, Room M602, 505 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco). Reservations are required. Please call Martha Rangel-Lugo at 415-652-4058 to schedule a time for the testing. [ TrialNet ]
ANNUAL DIABETES PATIENT SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 4 – MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND! The UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center is holding its annual Adult Diabetes Patient Symposium on Saturday, April 4 from 7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the UCSF Laurel Heights Campus (3333 California Street). Topics include: “Counting Carbohydrates vs. Glycemic Index/Load”, “Why We Remain Hopeful About Stem Cells”, “Islet and Pancreas Transplantation: An Update”, “Continuous Glucose Monitoring – Panel Discussion”, “From Discouraged to Encouraged: Yes You Can Manage Your Diabetes ”. A continental breakfast and a comprehensive symposium syllabus are included in the fee ($25 per person; $35 per family of two). For more information: 415-353-2266; marina.demetsky@ucsfmedctr.org [flyer] [website]
PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGISTS TO BE HONORED UCSF researchers are often honored by the diabetes community for their significant scientific achievements. It is equally meaningful when our clinicians receive well-deserved recognition for the passionate care they provide to families, and for their cutting-edge clinical research efforts. We are proud to announce that the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is honoring two distinguished UCSF pediatric endocrinologists, Dr. Steve Gitelman and Dr. Saleh Adi, along with two well-respected pediatric endocrinologists at Stanford, Dr. Bruce Buckingham and Dr. Darrell Wilson. These dedicated physicians will be honored at JDRF’s upcoming Hope Gala. Congratulations and thanks to all of these outstanding medical professionals.
Clinical Trials
The Diabetes Center at UCSF is among the premier institutions for clinical trials of emerging therapies in diabetes. Numerous clinical trials in type 1 and 2 diabetes are now underway.
Interested in participating? A sample of our trials currently enrolling patients:
Type 1 Diabetes: TrialNet Natural History Study [Antibody Screening] Seeking relatives of people with type 1 diabetes to find out if these family members are at risk for developing diabetes [ more ]
Type 1 Diabetes: Oral Insulin Preventative Study Seeking relatives of people with type 1 diabetes from age 3 to age 45 [ more ]
Type 1 Diabetes: Islet Transplantation with Belatacept Seeking volunteers 18 and older, with type 1 diabetes and weighing less than 175 lbs [ more ]
Type 1 Diabetes: Teplizumab (HOKT3y1 (Ala-Ala)) [Protégé Study] Seeking volunteers, 16 to 35 years of age, within 12 weeks of diagnosis [ more ]
Type 2 Diabetes: Paleolithic-Type Diets and Metabolic Control Seeking volunteers 18 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes [ more ]
Non-Diabetics: Alpha Lipoic Acid and Insulin Resistance Seeking volunteers 20 to 60 years of age [ more ]
Non-Diabetics: Chromium and Insulin Resistance Seeking volunteers 20 to 50 years of age, not exercising regularly, and of normal body weight [ more ]
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. If you wish to financially support the UCSF Diabetes Center, please visit our donation website and designate your gift to "The Diabetes Center", or contact Suzanne Ritchie at 415-476-6334; sritchie@support.ucsf.edu
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