ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association Research Foundation today announced a $1.44 million commitment by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. to support two important diabetes- related fellowship programs. The first program is the launch of a newly- created American Diabetes Association (ADA)-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Beta Cell Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The second program is the American Diabetes Association-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Cardiovascular Complications in Diabetes Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which Takeda began sponsoring last year. "These critical programs meet an urgent need in the diabetes community to recruit and train young diabetes researchers," said Don Wagner, chair, ADA Research Foundation. "With the help of Takeda, the ADA is proud to support up- and-coming researchers to advance their research to find a cure for diabetes and stop diabetes complications."
Both programs focus on vital areas of diabetes research. The first program, which will support fellowships in the area of beta cell research, is crucial to advancing treatment -- and possibly finding a cure for diabetes -- as researchers look to identify ways to slow or stop the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, as well as study ways to maintain insulin secretion in the face of insulin resistance. The second program, which will support fellowships in the area of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, has broad implications for the management and care of people with diabetes as two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
"As a longstanding collaborator with the ADA, Takeda is proud to help support diabetes research through these vital fellowship programs," said Robert Spanheimer, senior director, medical affairs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. "The research that these programs will help facilitate has the potential to significantly improve patients' lives, and we're pleased to be able to support these important efforts."
Diabetes is one of this nation's most prevalent, debilitating, deadly and costly diseases, affecting nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States. One in three Americans -- and one in two minorities -- born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cost of diabetes in America in 2002 was more than $132 billion.
Four Cardiovascular Fellowships were awarded in 2006 and with Takeda's continued support four new grants will be awarded in 2007. Those interested in applying for a future American Diabetes Association-Takeda Pharmaceuticals Cardiovascular Complications in Diabetes Postdoctoral Fellowship should visit the ADA Web site at: http://diabetes.org/diabetes-research/research-grant- application-forms.jsp.
In addition, four Beta Cell Fellowships will begin on July 1, 2007. Applicants interested in applying for an American Diabetes Association (ADA)-
Takeda Pharmaceuticals Beta Cell Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2008 should apply online at the above Web site.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to hundreds of communities. The Association's commitment to research is reflected through its scientific meetings; education and provider recognition programs; and its Research Foundation and Nationwide Research Program, which fund breakthrough studies looking into the cure, prevention, and treatment of diabetes and its complications. For more information, please visit http://www.diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
About Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
Based in Deerfield, IL, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan. In the United States, Takeda currently markets products for diabetes, insomnia, wakefulness, and gastroenterology. Through the Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc. the company has a robust pipeline with compounds in development for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other conditions. Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products. To learn more about the company and its products, visit http://www.tpna.com.
American Diabetes AssociationCONTACT: Rachel Morgan of the American Diabetes Association,+1-703-549-1500 ext. 2290
