American Diabetes Association Awards $1 Million in Funding to Support New Research on the Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Type 2 Diabetes

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwire - August 11, 2011) -

The American Diabetes Association today announced the recipients of two major research grants to support new studies on the effects of bariatric surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association Research Award Program in Bariatric Surgery in Diabetes, jointly sponsored by Covidien and Ethicon Endo-Surgery, awarded grants to Alyssa H. Hasty, PhD, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and A. Gordon Smith, MD, from the University of Utah.

The American Diabetes Association Research Award Program in Bariatric Surgery in Diabetes will provide $1 million in funding to support two three-year research grants through the American Diabetes Association. One grant will fund Hasty’s research on the impact of bariatric surgery on reducing inflammation in adipose (fatty) tissue. The other grant will fund Smith’s work to examine the effect of bariatric surgery on the development of neuropathy.

This award program is the first time these three organizations have worked together to fund research; Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Covidien are two of the world’s leading medical device companies in the fields of endoscopic and bariatric surgery.

“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,” said 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. Understanding why and how this happens may help us unlock new ways of treating type 2 diabetes and other comorbidities of obesity,” said Kenneth Sumner, PhD, Vice President, Worldwide Scientific Affairs, Ethicon Endo-Surgery. “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,” said Xavier P. Lefebvre, PhD, Global Vice-President, Clinical Affairs, 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.”

About Covidien
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2010 revenue of $10.4 billion, Covidien has 41,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

About Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Ethicon Endo-Surgery develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, focusing on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. More information can be found at the new company website www.ethiconendosurgery.com.

About American Diabetes Association
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.

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Technorati: bariatric surgery type 2 diabetes diabetes research obesity