The Alberta Diabetes Institute at the University of Alberta has awarded important financial support to another two Alberta-based diabetes research projects. The Alberta Diabetes Institute : Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Research Fund is aimed at supporting research in diabetes with a focus on novel discoveries with a high potential for commercialization.
The research fund is a $600,000 partnership between the Alberta Diabetes Institute, Janssen Inc. in Canada (part of the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson), the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Diabetes Foundation.
"The potential for commercialization of research is an important factor when considering investing the money raised at the Alberta Diabetes Foundation," said Brad Fournier, executive director of the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. "We are very pleased with the two projects that have been awarded this co-funded grant with our partners."
"These research projects will harness Alberta's strengths in diabetes research to improve how diabetes can be prevented, treated and managed. Investing in science and innovation is part of our government's commitment to building a stronger and more diverse economy," said the Honourable Deron Bilous, minister of economic development and trade.
"This fund represents a unique partnership between Janssen, the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Diabetes Foundation that is directly aimed at transforming great ideas into real-world solutions for people living with diabetes," said Dr. Peter Light, director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute.
In collaboration with the Alberta Diabetes Institute, experts from Johnson & Johnson Innovation identified two high-potential opportunities from projects submitted by medical researchers across Alberta.
The selected fund recipients are:
Restoring Vascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes
Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrew Braun, University of Calgary
Cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, stroke) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes. This study examines a novel therapeutic strategy to improve cardiovascular health by restoring the ability of blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow, which is restricted in diabetes. The overall goal of Dr. Braun's research is to improve the cardiovascular health and quality of life for patients with diabetes.
Obesity, Eating Disorders & Diabetes: The Role of Calcium Signalling and the Calcium Transporter, NCKX4
Principal Investigator: Dr. Jonathan Lytton, University of Calgary
Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of diabetes. However, current therapeutic options aimed at regulating appetite control are very limited. Dr. Lytton's research team has recently discovered a new molecular pathway that is responsible for the control of eating behaviour. The research may uncover novel cellular signals that control feeding behaviour, and thus has the potential to lead to the development of new therapeutic agents for treating obesity and diabetes.
Call for 2016 Letters of Intent are now open.
More than three million Canadians currently live with diabetes. This private-public partnership fund will accelerate the development of health-care technologies within Alberta, a province known for life-changing research in the causes, prevention, treatment and management of diabetes.
About Alberta Economic Development and Trade
The Ministry of Alberta Economic Development and Trade focuses on economic growth and diversification by supporting innovation and research; expanding access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises; promoting trade, investment and market access initiatives; and leading Alberta's negotiations on trade agreements. Please visit our website at http://economic.alberta.ca
About Alberta Diabetes Foundation
The Alberta Diabetes Foundation is devoted to raising money for diabetes research. Through our fundraising efforts, we directly support scientific research that has yielded extremely positive results. To date the Alberta Diabetes Foundation has raised over $11.8 million in support of cure-related diabetes research. For more information about the Alberta Diabetes Foundation, please visit www.AlbertaDiabetesFoundation.com
About Alberta Diabetes Institute
The Alberta Diabetes Institute is a research facility dedicated to translating discovery science into health solutions for the prevention, treatment and cure of Type I and Type II diabetes. The Alberta Diabetes Institute uses a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together leading researchers from diverse fields of expertise in a state-of-the-art facility on the University of Alberta campus. For more information, please visit our website at www.adi.ualberta.ca