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Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Names The City of Hope a JDRF Islet Cell Transplant Center

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 August 2006, 15:00 CDT

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world's largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research, announced today that it has named The City of Hope National Medical Center in Los Angeles as a JDRF Islet Cell Transplant Center.

"The designation of The City of Hope as a JDRF research center adds one of the world's top clinical transplant institutions to our roster of research centers around the world," said Richard A. Insel, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research at JDRF. "As a JDRF center, we are confident that the City of Hope can continue its rapid development of research and treatment programs in islet cell supply and transplantation, which will certainly be a significant addition to our efforts to accelerate the pace of research leading to the development of cures and treatments for type 1 diabetes and its complications."

According to Dr. Insel, JDRF's 14 centers -- focused on islet transplantation, diabetes complications, and immunology -- provide leading scientists and clinicians with the opportunity to bring together the diverse expertise needed to capture and rapidly translate new and emerging ideas into clinical benefits for people with diabetes. Over the past year, JDRF has funded some $123 million in diabetes research at medical centers, industry and academic laboratories, and other medical research institutions around the world, focusing on beta cell regeneration, autoimmunity, complications, islet cell replacement, and mechanical and technological interventions.

The islet transplantation program at The City of Hope performed the largest number of islet transplants in North America during 2004 and 2005, second only to the University of Edmonton, which developed the protocol for human islet cell transplantation in 2000. The institution is a leader in diabetes research, in general, and islet cell replacement. It has been designated as one of only a handful of Islet Cell Resource Centers by the National Institutes of Health/JDRF, developed the first Clinical Islet Transplant Fellowship program for training endocrinologists in the U.S., and established the Southern California Islet Consortium. The City of Hope conducts diabetes research focused on islet quality assessment, the generation of new islets, and the development of immune tolerance strategies.

"To be recognized by the JDRF as an institution that is leading the way in islet transplantation is a testament to our researchers and clinicians," said Fouad R. Kandeel, M.D., Ph.D, director, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, City of Hope, and director of the Southern California Islet Cell Consortium. "The long-term effects of diabetes can be devastating and potentially life-threatening. We believe that combining City of Hope's expertise with the JDRF will lead to rapid advancement in treatment."

In addition to the designation as a JDRF Islet Transplant Center, JDRF also announced that it has awarded The City of Hope a clinical investigation grant totaling more than $3 million over the next five years for research in optimizing islet replacement therapies for patients with type 1 diabetes.

According to Mark Rieck, Executive Director of JDRF's Los Angeles Chapter, JDRF and The City of Hope provide excellent sources of information, outreach, and clinical support for people in the greater Los Angeles community with a connection to diabetes. "Together, we can be a powerful advocate for patients," Mr. Reick said, "as well as a source of hope for people with diabetes and their families who are helping us fund research leading to a cure."

JDRF's Los Angeles Chapter is among the area's leading community organizations, raising more than $38 million for diabetes research over the past 15 years.

About JDRF

JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes -- a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $1 billion to diabetes research worldwide. More than 85 percent of JDRF' expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

CONTACT: Eileen Brangan Mell, National Manager, Media Relations,+1-212-479-7577, ebrangan@jdrf.org, of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Web site: http://www.jdf.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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