November 2010 eUpdate Newsletter
November 22, 2010
Thanksgiving Message from our Center Director
For many, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of good food, family and friends, and a few days off. In my family, we make sure we stop to reflect on all for which we are thankful.
For me, I am grateful for the opportunity to lead an outstanding team of researchers and medical professionals who are all committed to discovering better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for diabetes.
In this season of giving thanks, I also wish to acknowledge our generous donors and supporters who continue to support our diabetes research and clinical care efforts. Without them, so many of the advances discussed in this publication would not be possible.
Please accept my thanks for your continued interest in the Diabetes Center at UCSF. I wish you and your family the best this holiday season.
Matthias Hebrok, PhD
Director, UCSF Diabetes Center
RESEARCH NEWS
New Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Studies Launched
A number of new investigational studies in diabetes are being launched by the UCSF Pediatric Diabetes Clinical Research Program under the leadership of Steve Gitelman, MD. Investigational studies are studies that are not approved for use in diabetes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
One investigational study involves regulatory T cells (Tregs). This study will support a future study that will test if Tregs can stop the destruction of the insulin producing cells in people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes within the last 2 years. [Treg Study]
A second investigational study explores if a combination therapy (Thymoglobulin® + Neulasta®), can be used as a possible treatment for those who have established type 1 diabetes. The secondary purpose is to determine if giving Thymoglobulin® + Neulasta® to patients with established type 1 diabetes will preserve insulin production. Thymoglobulin® is approved for treating organ transplant rejection in kidney transplant patients. Neulasta® is approved for treating patients receiving cancer therapy. [Thymoglobulin® + Neulasta® Study]
For more information on these studies or other clinical research being conducted at UCSF, contact Kathleen Fraser.
Public Health Research in Diabetes Continues to Progress
Researchers from the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations (CVP) at San Francisco General Hospital continue to impact diabetes prevention and management efforts in countless ways through their important translational research.
The CVP team includes Dr. Dean Schillinger, the CVP Director and Chief of the California Diabetes Program and his colleagues, Drs. Urmimala Sarkar and Hilary Seligman, who have published several papers focusing on health literacy, patient/provider linguistic barriers, food insecurity, and the impact of diabetes along the California/Mexico border.
Dr. Schillinger published three papers in conjunction with the U.S. - Mexico Border Diabetes Prevention and Control Project that focus on the development of a viable diabetes prevention and control program for the specific needs of the border population. [Hypertension] [Undiagnosed Diabetes] [Smoking] Additionally, the team recently published two papers with Kaiser Permanente which demonstrated: 1) people with diabetes who have limited health literacy are at higher risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) [Diabetes Health] [Santa Cruz Sentinel] and, 2) patients who cannot communicate in their own language with their physician may have poorer outcomes. [UCSF Public Affairs] Drs. Seligman and Schillinger also published an editorial about the burden of hunger and chronic disease that was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. [NEJM] [UCSF Public Affairs]
CLINICAL NEWS
Taking Control of your Diabetes through our Insulin Workshop
The unique program of the UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center brings together the skills of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and nutritionists to provide individuals with therapies, diabetes education and continuing resources. Thousands of people from around the world have completed workshops at the UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center.
The Insulin Workshop is our flagship program. This small group setting provides support and interaction for people who face the similar challenges and demands of living with diabetes. Together with you, our team of experts will tailor a treatment plan that meets your individual needs and matches your lifestyle. Whether you have been newly diagnosed or are looking for a more effective plan, participants have found this to be an enlightening, positive and even “life changing” experience as they gain confidence in managing their own diabetes.
This 3 ½ day workshop is held once each month for ½ day on Monday and full days the following Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. A family member or support person is encouraged to attend. Most medical insurance plans cover the program.
For more information, please call Marina Demetsky at 415-353-2266 or visit our website, Diabetes Education Online.
DIABETES CENTER NEWS
10th Anniversary: A Celebration of our Success with a Focus on the Future
This fall, the Diabetes Center celebrated its tenth anniversary when diabetes research, clinical care and education were all united into one organization to more rapidly improve the quality of life of those living with diabetes. In these past ten years, we’ve accelerated our basic research efforts and have aggressively pursued promising clinical research to help generate new treatments for this disease.
In total, nearly 1,000 people participated in our 10th Anniversary activities including Northern California researchers and medical professionals, the Bay Area pediatric diabetes community, UCSF faculty and staff, and supporters and donors. Thanks to all who participated!
If you haven’t seen the powerful and poignant anniversary video underwritten by a generous benefactor, please click on the 10th Anniversary/You Tube picture. Also, our 10th Anniversary appeared in a number of articles and publications. [UCSF Public Affairs] [Diabetes Health] [News Release]
Special Thanks to our 10th Anniversary Supporters
We are grateful to the Kadima Foundation and all of our corporate supporters who generously underwrote the cost of our 10th Anniversary Celebration.
We also thank everyone who exhibited at the Scientific Symposium and the Pediatric Family Fun Day & Carnival!
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: Thymoglobulin Intervention Study Seeking volunteers, 12 to 35 years of age, within 100 days of diagnosis [JDRF story link]
Type 1 Diabetes: TrialNet Natural History Study [Antibody Screening] Seeking relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, 1 to 45 years of age
Type 1 Diabetes: An Oral Insulin Preventative Study Seeking relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, 3 to 45 years of age
Type 1 Diabetes: Treatment with Thymoglobulin + Neulasta Seeking volunteers newly diagnosed at least four months but not more than 2 years, 16 to 44 years of age
Type 1 Diabetes: Treatment with Polyclonal Tregs Seeking volunteers newly diagnosed within 2 years, 18 to 35 years of age
Type 1 Diabetes: Islet Transplantation Seeking volunteers 18 - 65 years of age
Type 1 Diabetes: Efficacy of Islet After Kidney Transplantation Seeking volunteers 18-65 years of age
Type 1 Diabetes: Peritransplant Deoxyspergualin in Islet Transplantation Seeking volunteers 18-65 years of age
Type 2 Diabetes: Paleolithic-Type Diets and Metabolic Control Seeking volunteers 18 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes
Bone Study for Postmenopausal Women With or Without Type 2 Diabetes Seeking volunteers between 50 and 75 years old
APS1 and Autoimmune Disease Seeking volunteers at least 6 weeks old who have either autoimmune disease, have evidence of autoimmunity, have a family member with autoimmunity, or do not have autoimmune disease (healthy volunteer control)
For more opportunities, visit the Clinical Trials section of our website, or contact Kathleen Fraser, our Clinical Trials Recruitment Coordinator.
Diabetes Center at UCSF
If you wish to receive more information about the UCSF Diabetes Center’s clinical and research programs, or would like to financially support one or more of these efforts, please contact Suzanne Ritchie at 415-476-6334. You may also visit our donation website and designate your gift to “The Diabetes Center."
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