“
“
THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
FURTHER ESTABLISHES MICHIGAN
AS ONE OF THE PREMIER DIABETES CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY. — Thomas Gardner, M.D., M.S.
Thomas Gardner, M.D., M.S.
Moving Toward a New Concept in Type 1 Diabetes Research More than 100 million American adults are living with diabetes
diabetes,” says Dr. Gardner. Specifically, why certain patients
or prediabetes, which is why 350 Michigan Medicine faculty
experience serious complications and others don’t, he says.
members are committed to diabetes research. Among them is
a significant and growing Kellogg cohort focused on research
might be able to do a better job of preventing complications as
surrounding the effect diabetes has on the retina.
we tailor treatment based on each patient’s unique profile with
this disease,” Dr. Gardner says. “Instead of treatment focused
This dedicated focus has led to a partnership of the
“Using precision medicine, similar to cancer treatment, we
Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute (EWCDI) and the
mainly on diet, exercise and insulin doses, we’re developing
JDRF to establish the JDRF Center of Excellence (COE) at the
treatment specific to individual patient needs.
University of Michigan. Through the use of team science, the
COE is committed to pursuing type 1 diabetes (T1D) cures and
from protein and lipid metabolism, to the function of pancreatic
to reducing disease burden through improved treatments.
beta cells, to the use of insulin pumps to regulate blood glucose,
to addressing chronic complications affecting the kidneys,
“The Center of Excellence further establishes Michigan
“We’ve set a very ambitious research agenda that ranges
as one of the premier diabetes centers in the country,” says
nerves, brain, heart and eyes, to the psychosocial impact on
Thomas Gardner, M.D., M.S., professor of ophthalmology
patients and families.,” says Dr. Gardner. “In short, we hope to
and visual sciences.
redefine how diabetes harms people and to use that information
to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.”
The COE’s goals include safer, more effective diabetes
management and improved health for individuals living with
T1D. The JDRF is the global leader in funding T1D research,
mology and combines the expertise of faculty members from
and its $7.37 million grant over five years will anchor the COE.
the Departments of Internal Medicine (Division of Metabolism,
In addition, Regent Ron Weiser and his family have contributed
Endocrinology and Diabetes; Division of Nephrology; and
towards the EWCDI.
Division of Gastroenterology), Pediatrics, Biomedical Engineer-
ing Neurology, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
“With this grant, we’re moving toward a burden of disease
concept where we look at long-term consequences of type 1
The study is administered by the Department of Ophthal-
in the medical school and college of engineering.
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