In My Community

The mission at the American Diabetes Association's Research Foundation is to ensure the availability of funds necessary for the full exploration of all the scientific possibilities that diabetes research is generating.

Last year, the Association's Research Foundation committed $34.1 million nationwide to research projects. Currently, we are funding more than $2.6 million for research in Alabama.

Examples of significant Association discoveries include:

• invention of the first glucose meter
• introduction of more effective forms of insulin
• therapeutic regimens to control both pre- and post-meal blood glucose levels
• invention of the portable insulin pump
• oral diabetes medicines to help control blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes
• transplantation of new insulin-producing cells from a donor pancreas
• laser treatments to prevent blindness
• insulin receptors discovered on cell membranes
• blood glucose control to prevent eye, kidney and nerve disease
• impact of diet and exercise on diabetes
• mapping the genetics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• new drugs to help people with diabetes control their disease

Thanks to this research, key discoveries have been made that make life better for those living with diabetes.

For more information or to make a donation towards our research efforts, please contact Aimee Johnson, Executive Director at AiJohnson@diabetes.org.

Meet our 2012 Locally Funded Researchers

Cherrington, Andrea Lynne, MD (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Developing a mobile health intervention to link diabetes community health workers with primary care
Diabetes Type: Type 2 Diabetes
General Research Subject: Diabetes Education

Learn more about this Research Study here.

Kim, Jeonga, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Role of TLR4-mediated unfolding protein response in vascular insulin resistance
Diabetes Type: Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes
General Research Subject: Insulin Action

Learn more about this Research Study here.

Shalev, Anath, MD (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Identification of a TXNIP-regulated microRNA involved in insulin production
Diabetes Type: Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes
General Research Subject: Islet Biology

Tao, Ya-Xiong, PhD (Auburn University)
Rescue of intracellularly retained human melanocortin-4 receptor mutants
Diabetes Type: Type 2 Diabetes
General Research Subject: Obesity

Learn more about this Research Study here.

Tse, Hubert Ming, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Synergism of innate immune-derived reactive oxygen species and T cell effector responses in Type 1 diabetes
Diabetes Type: Type 1 Diabetes
General Research Subject: Immunology

Learn more about this Research Study here.

Yang, Qinglin, MD, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
The role of PPARdelta signaling in diabetic cardiomyopathy
Diabetes Type: Type 1 Diabetes
General Research Subject: Integrated Physiology

Learn more about this Research Study here.

Top 5 Things to Know About the Association's Research:

1. We have the most comprehensive diabetes research grants program in the country.
2. Over the years, the Association has invested more than $550 million in diabetes research and provided funding for more than 4,000 research projects.
3. 100 percent of all allocated gifts to support diabetes research are used only to support research.
4. For all donations $50,000 or above, donors can select the specific research project that they would like to fund.
5. According to the 2002-2007 Research Program Assessment, 97 percent of researchers supported by the Association continued their careers in diabetes research.

To learn about the Association's nationally funded research, visit: http://www.diabetes.org/news-research/research/.

For more information or to make a donation towards our research efforts, please contact Aimee Johnson, Executive Director at AiJohnson@diabetes.org.