May 12, 2005

$3 Million Pledged to Diabetes Research

In April the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) and the University of British Columbia (UBC) announced a partnership to provide $3 million in support of the institute's Diabetes Research Program. $1.2 million will support the creation of advanced research positions for outstanding scientists. $1.8 million will be used to assist in completing funding requirements for capital costs for a Centre for Research in Childhood Diabetes. Dr. Bruce Verchere and nine other investigators have previously been awarded close to $9 million in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the BC Knowledge Development Fund to begin the centre. The CDA and UBC announcement was made in the Chieng Atrium at the Research Institute.

Recent data suggests that one in three children born in 2000 will be diagnosed with diabetes in his or her lifetime. Investigators with the institute's Diabetes Research Program are conducting research into islet cell biology, autoimmunity, genetics, and viral causes of diseases, and emerging areas such as beta cell regeneration. They study both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Their multidisciplinary approach is unique in Canada.