The American Diabetes Association (Association) announced the three recipients of the American Diabetes Association New England Cardiovascular-Metabolic Fellowship Awards supported by a grant from Pfizer Inc. These two-year fellowships provide support of up to $150,000 for studies focused on improving our understanding of the pathophysiology, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with diabetes. In addition to expanding our understanding of CVD; one of the most dangerous and deadly complications experienced by people with diabetes"”these awards seek to increase the number of future independent diabetes researchers exploring treatments and potential cures for diabetes.
"Cardiovascular disease is one of the greatest threats facing people with diabetes, yet we're just beginning to understand the complex relationship between these two serious health conditions. People with diabetes are approximately two times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than people without diabetes, creating an urgent need for better understanding, tools and treatments," said William T. Cefalu, MD, chief scientific, medical and mission officer of the Association. "First and foremost, these fellowships carry the potential to help people with diabetes achieve better outcomes. They will also help us overcome one of the most significant hurdles to future advancements in diabetes-the limited number of scientists entering the field. The more researchers investigating the intricacies of diabetes, the better equipped we will be to help millions of patients with diabetes."
After rigorous evaluation by an expert peer review committee, including experts in diabetes, metabolism, endocrinology, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, the three applications with the top scientific merit scores were selected for funding. They represent a wide breadth of innovative ideas and approaches to understanding diabetes, cardiometabolic complications and potential new therapeutic approaches to reduce the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The three recipients of the awards are:
- Jun Li, MD, PhD, a fellow in the laboratory of Frank Hu, MD, PhD, MPH, at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, for his clinical research project titled, "Mediterranean diet, metabolites and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes."
- Guoxiao Wang, PhD, a fellow in the laboratory of C. Ronald Kahn, MD, at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, for her basic research project titled, "Role of protein malonylation and succinylation in regulating mitochondria function and homeostasis."
- Andrea Sorrentino, PhD, a fellow in the laboratory of Thomas Michel, MD, PhD, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, for his basic research project titled, "Chemogenetic regulation of intracellular H2O2 in normal and diabetic heart."
"Pfizer is committed to supporting the development of the next generation of diabetes researchers as well as advancing our understanding of the connection between cardiovascular disease and diabetes, a growing burden and area of significant unmet patient need," said Morris J. Birnbaum, MD, PhD, senior vice president and chief scientific officer, Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Inc. "We are proud to work in cooperation with the American Diabetes Association to support these promising scientists in their exciting studies, and look forward to learning how the findings may help contribute to the development of new approaches to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease in people living with diabetes."
For more information about the Association's research grant programs, visit https://diabetes.org/grants .
