American Diabetes Association Announces Requests For Applications For Research Collaboration With Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwired - June 02, 2014) - The American Diabetes Association (Association) is pleased to announce the opening of a request for applications today for The American Diabetes Association and Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award: Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Insufficiency in the Setting of Diabetes, a three-year program which will fund research that focuses on improving the clinical care of people with chronic kidney disease and diabetes. The program is made possible through $1.5 million in funding from Boehringer Ingelheim and is directed, managed and overseen by the Association.

This research effort follows recommendations from a recent American Diabetes Association Consensus Conference: “Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes” on the current status of care for people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This important conference was held in collaboration with the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). A number of critical research gaps were identified, and this initiative aims to address some of these important questions in order to improve care for people with chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for more than 40 percent of new cases, and renal insufficiency complicates the care of people with diabetes.

“The American Diabetes Association is excited to open the call for applications for The American Diabetes Association and Boehringer Ingelheim Award: Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Insufficiency in the Setting of Diabetes research grants,” said Elizabeth R. Seaquist, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. “Chronic kidney disease is a serious complication for people who are living with diabetes. This research is critical in allowing us to better understand the connection between the two diseases, and to explore more effective ways that we can manage them medically, allowing people with diabetes to lead healthier lives.”

The grants will fund a wide range of research, including:

• Studies aimed at validation and standardization of established markers of CKD (albuminuria, UACR, eGFR, GFR), and identification and validation of non-traditional/novel biomarkers of CKD in people with diabetes, with the intent to improve diagnosis and disease characterization, identify progressors and non-progressors, and monitor treatment responses.

• Investigation of the mechanisms underlying the development of microvascular kidney disease to identify targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches; particularly systems biology approaches (metabolomics, functional genomics, proteomics, etc.) to elucidate novel factors and pathways that impact kidney function and the development of chronic kidney disease in diabetes.

• Translational studies examining clinical efficacy of novel candidates for treatment of microvascular kidney disease; including studies utilizing non-traditional biomarkers or surrogate endpoints to detect early signals of potential benefit and to inform drug development decision making.

• Comparative effectiveness studies examining the effects of different pharmacological treatment strategies on glycemic control, lipids, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with diabetes at various stages of CKD, up to and including ESRD/dialysis.

• Epidemiological, database or clinical studies examining the rates and consequences of hypoglycemia in people with diabetic kidney disease, identifying people at highest risk for hypoglycemia and optimal treatment strategies for patients with diabetes and CKD who are at high risk for hypoglycemia.

“Boehringer Ingelheim is looking forward to high-quality proposals for this research collaboration with the American Diabetes Association which aims to close some of the important scientific gaps identified by the Consensus Conference: ‘Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes,’” said Hans-Jürgen Wörle, Vice President, Therapeutic Area Medicine Metabolism, Boehringer Ingelheim.

To learn more, visit www.diabetes.org/grants. The request for applications will be open until September 15, 2014.

Throughout the years, the Association has funded innovative and groundbreaking diabetes research and has invested approximately $675 million in more than 4,000 research projects. The Association’s research allows people to lead healthier and more productive lives every day.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.