News Release
March 18, 2014
¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Research Receives a Big Boost
Launch of new ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute: Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Research Fund Call for Proposals
·¡»å³¾´Ç²Ô³Ù´Ç²Ô… The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has announced a new collaboration with Janssen Inc. in Canada to advance early-stage technologies related to Type I and Type II diabetes. Janssen is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
The Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Research Fund is a newly-created $600,000 partnership, funded between Janssen, the Government of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, and the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Foundation. The three year competitive fund, administered by U of A's ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute, will support research in either Type I or Type II diabetes with a focus on novel, discovery research with a high potential for commercialization.
"¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥'s decades-long commitment to diabetes research has brought ground-breaking discoveries and better quality of life for diabetes sufferers, " said Fred Horne, Minister of Health. "Working collaboratively with our innovation system, Campus ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and across the public and private sectors, means we can move promising discoveries to the marketplace faster where they can help ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ns and people worldwide."
Through the collaboration, the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute and technical experts from Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center in California will jointly identify several high-potential opportunities from medical researchers across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and award up to $50,000 for one (1) year including indirect costs from the Research Fund. All aspects of diabetes research are eligible to apply for funding. Proposals are expected to lead to further development of drugs, devices, cell therapies and processes that relate to the diagnosis, treatment and management of Type I or Type II diabetes.
"Advancing the care of people living with Type I or II diabetes is a priority for us," said Dr. Douglas Miller, dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. "This collaboration of funding partners exemplifies the good will of the private, public and philanthropic organizations to work together to best serve patients. Only by scientists working together across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ will we find better treatments."
Letters of Intent are currently being accepted and instructions can be found by visiting the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute website: www.adi.ualberta.ca/researchfund.aspx. The first call for Letters of Intent closes on April 30, 2014.
Over 9 million Canadians currently live with either pre-diabetes or Type I or Type II diabetes, and this private-public partnership fund will accelerate the development and validation of healthcare technologies within ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ which is known for life-changing research in the causes, prevention, treatment and management of diabetes.
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Media Contact(s):
|
Earl McKenzie Innovation & Advanced Education Government of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Tel: (780) 415-0891 Email: earl.mckenzie@gov.ab.ca |
Jo-anne Nugent Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Tel: (780) 492-9651 Email: jo-anne.nugent@ualberta.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
About ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Innovation and Advanced Education
Education and entrepreneurship are cornerstones of the dynamic economy that ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ns continue to build through their knowledge, adaptability and entrepreneurial spirit. Toward that end, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Innovation and Advanced Education aligns economic development activities in the province with post-secondary education, entrepreneurship, industry training, research and innovation. ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is a leader in Canada with the implementation of this unique, inclusive structure, which builds on existing links between government functions that contribute to a stronger, more robust economy. Please visit our website at: .
About ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Foundation
The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Foundation is devoted to raising money for diabetes research. Through our fundraising efforts, we directly support scientific research which has yielded extremely positive results. To date the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Foundation has raised over $11.8 million in support of cure-related diabetes research. For more information about the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Foundation, please visit .
About ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute
The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Diabetes Institute (ADI) 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 ADI uses a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together leading researchers from diverse fields of expertise in a state-of-the-art facility on the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Campus. Please visit our website at www.adi.ualberta.ca for more information.