Posted by Scott on July 02, 1998 at 11:51:06:
The NIDDK response letters are so general. Anybody know which companies\researchers were awarded funds in the beta cell fields?
Here's their letter:
Dear Mr. Spencer:
Dr. Phillip Gorden, Director of NIDDK, has received your email messages
requesting information on research directed toward curing type 1 diabetes. I
have been asked to reply.
We hear from many parents about the suffering type 1 diabetes imposes on them
and their children, and we wish we had the answers to cure this terrible disease
today. Unfortunately, the work of some of the country's brightest researchers
have not yet brought us to that goal. We agree wholeheartedly that intensified
research must focus on a cure for diabetes, as well as better treatment for
patients who already suffer from complications of the disease, and prevention of
both types of diabetes in those at high risk. Many researchers, both here and
abroad, have made this effort their life's work and are working very, very hard
on behalf of all patients, but especially for the children who must learn to
deal with chronic disease daily. These patients deserve our very best efforts
and we do our best to give them no less.
NIDDK leads this work not only by funding the most promising research, but by
identifying the best research leads in the scientific community. We also
encourage the best and the brightest scientists to focus on diabetes research by
creating special opportunities for funding, and by fostering cooperative and
collaborative research efforts among those who take up the challenge of this
work. Let me give you a brief overview of NIDDK's recent efforts:
In Fiscal Year (FY) 1997, the NIH spent an estimated $316 million on diabetes
research. This funding supports scientists engaged in wide-ranging activities
to meet the needs of all patients with diabetes. Highlights include searching
for the genes that cause both type 1 and type 2 diabetes; research to identify
other potential causes as well as the mechanisms of these diseases; a major
national clinical trial to prevent type 1 diabetes, and a trial of similar scope
to prevent type 2 diabetes.
In September 1997, NIH Director Harold Varmus, M.D., the NIDDK and several other
NIH institutes sponsored a landmark symposium, "Diabetes Mellitus: Challenges
and Opportunities." The leading experts in diabetes and related research who
comprised this gathering concluded that although major scientific progress has
occurred in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, diabetes
research must be intensified to close research gaps, take advantage of new
technologies, and capitalize on highly promising research leads and advances.
For your information, the report is available online at
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/new/newsbref/997wrksh/toc.htm Recommendations from
this meeting will provide the scientific framework for development of future NIH
diabetes research emphases. In addition, a Diabetes Research Working Group of
NIH and non-Federal experts continues to evaluate the most promising research
priorities by request of Congress.
Most of the research funded by the NIH is investigator-initiated, meaning that
scientists from universities and laboratories around the country apply for
funding for projects that interest them. To promote research on certain
diseases, the NIH issues Requests for Applications (RFAs), announcing the
availability of funds for specified research projects. U.S. law mandates that
all applications for NIH funding are subject to a two-step review by outside
scientific experts to ensure the highest standards among funded projects. All
applications compete for available funds.
As you know, type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's own defense system
mistakenly attacks and destroys the pancreatic beta cells that make the body's
insulin. Finding a way to protect or restore beta cell function through
transplantation of beta cells or a bioengineered substitute for destroyed beta
cells would be one way to cure type 1 diabetes. Researchers are also
investigating other potential cures, such as finding a way to make beta cells
regenerate, and developing mechanical devices to measure glucose and provide an
accurate delivery of insulin to the body.
NIDDK spent almost $7 million on beta cell transplantation in FY 97, and has
encouraged the interest of scientists in this work by issuing RFAs such as the
"Cell Biology of Pancreatic Beta Cells." We anticipate that awards made in
response to this RFA will define the processes of normal development and
regeneration within the beta cells of the pancreas. Future studies will then be
able to use knowledge of these normal processes to help patients with type 1
diabetes to reestablish their own ability to secrete insulin once the autoimmune
destruction has been stopped.
Scientists have been working for some time to resolve several barriers to
successful transplanation of beta cells: first, it is difficult to keep beta
cells alive and producing insulin in response to glucose. Pancreas
transplantations are successful, but any patient receiving a transplant must
take powerful drugs that suppress the immune system. Immunosuppressed patients
are then much more vulnerable to common infections and certain cancers. What
researchers are trying to find is a way to transplant beta cells without
suppressing the immune system. Consequently, a second big hurdle is controlling
autoimmune rejection of transplanted cells. Another difficulty is identifying a
ready source of beta cells for all who need them. Some feel that porcine (pig)
beta cells might solve this problem, but some studies have shown that cells from
animals may transmit infectious agents to humans. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration is exploring safety guidelines to protect the public health in
conjunction with the NIH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As a result of the President's recent commitment of additional funds for
research on type 1 diabetes through the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, NIDDK
issued four new RFAs in November 1997. Two of them focus research on how the
beta cells that produce insulin are killed, and on developing bioengineered beta
cells or encapsulating them to protect them from autoimmune destruction. A
third RFA, "Glucose Sensors in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes," will focus on
developing a mechanical device to identify automatically when the body needs
insulin. Used with the implantable insulin pump, previously developed by Dr.
Christopher Saudek with support from NIDDK, such a glucose sensor would create
an artificial pancreas. The implantable insulin pump has been used successfully
in patients for several years. The fourth RFA seeks new treatments for the
complications of Type 1 diabetes. These four RFAs will make available $19
million in FY 98 for new research on type 1 diabetes.
As you may know, the President's initiative committed $30 million to be spent on
Type 1 diabetes in FY 98. In addition to the $19 million committed to the
research projects described above, $3 million will be spent annually (through
2002) on establishing a Centers for Disease Control National Diabetes Laboratory
for type 1 diabetes studies in genetic, immunologic, biochemical, clinical,
epidemiological and health services research as well as prevention research and
preventive care for patients. The remaining $8 million will be used to augment
promising diabetes research projects already in progress.
For fiscal year 1999, the President's Budget requests nearly $415 million for a
Diabetes Research Initiative to be supported by multiple institutes at the NIH.
These funds will allow us to support the most promising diabetes projects
recommended by the groups I have described. All of us in the Public Health
Service hope these efforts will help speed a cure for diabetes.
I hope this information will encourage you and your family as our researchers
redouble their efforts to find the breakthrough we all wish for.
Sincerely,
Richard C. Eastman, M.D.
Director, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology,
and Metabolic Diseases, NIDDK