The American Diabetes Association has announced that it will be awarding major research grants to study bariatric surgery and its effects on Type 2 diabetics. Called the American Diabetes Association Research Award Program in Bariatric Surgery in Diabetes is co-sponsored by Covidien and Ethicon Endo-Surgery and will award grants to A. Gordon Smith, M.D. at the University of Utah and Alyssa H. Hasty, PhD, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The program will grant $1 million in funding through the American Diabetes Association for the two research grants, which will each last three years. One grant will provide funding for Smith’s research into the effects of bariatric surgery in the development of neuropathy while the other grant will fund Hasty’s studies on the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in reducing inflammation of adipose, or fat, tissue.
Covidien and Ethicon Endo-Surgery, two cutting-edge leaders in medical device technology for bariatric and endoscopic surgery, will be working together for the first time along with the American Diabetes Association to provide the funding.
“More research is needed to study the effects of bariatric surgery, particularly its implications for people with type 2 diabetes, especially with the nation’s growing epidemics of type 2 diabetes and obesity,” stated R. Robert Henry, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. “Research projects such as these will help further our understanding of these mechanisms.”
“We know many bariatric surgery patients experience remission of type 2 diabetes within days of having surgery, before patients begin losing weight,” said Kenneth Sumner, PhD and Vice President of Worldwide Scientific Affairs at Ethicon Endo-Surgery. “Understanding why and how this happens may help us unlock new ways of treating type 2 diabetes and other comorbidities of obesity. We are delighted to support this important initiative as part of EES’ Metabolic Applied Research Strategy (MARS).”
“A growing body of clinical evidence strongly suggests that bariatric surgery is a potentially life-transforming procedure, drastically improving both the physical and mental well-being of patients, and in many cases, completely resolving diabetes and other obesity-related comorbidities,” according to Xavier P. Lefebvre, PhD, Global Vice-President of Clinical Affairs at Covidien. “We are proud to support these projects that have the potential to uncover new scientific insights into a promising and cost-effective solution for the obesity and diabetes epidemics affecting the global population.”
Covidien is an international health care products company, developing medical solutions through clinical research. The company manufactures and distributes medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies. Covidien employs 41,000 people around the globe in over 65 countries and posted revenue of $10.4 in 2010. Covidien’s products are sold in more than 140 countries; more information is available at http://www.covidien.com.
Ethicon Endo-Surgery specializes in the development and marketing of medical devices for both minimally invasive and open surgeries. The company researches and markets devices that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions through both general and bariatric surgical procedures. Ethicon also performs research and development in the fields of surgical oncology, gastrointestinal health and gynecology. More information is available at http://www.ethiconendosurgery.com.
The American Diabetes Association provides grants for research that aims to prevent, cure, and help people manage their diabetes. The Association works to provide trustworthy information, to aid communities affected by diabetes, and to ensure that diabetics receive their full rights. The American Diabetes Association can be reached by calling 1-800-DIABETES or by visiting http://www.diabetes.org.