FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2017
As our health system becomes more integrated, we are seeing the exciting results of our collaborative efforts. Thanks to a $5.29 million gift from the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, we are forging ahead with a bold, interdisciplinary approach to battling diabetes in Utah and across the region.
In Utah alone, 142,000 adults (7%) have been diagnosed with diabetes, making it one of the leading causes of death in our state. The diabetes initiative is a three-year tripartite project focusing on education and prevention outreach; innovations in clinical care; and cutting-edge research and training. The project engages research faculty, clinicians, staff and students from the Office of Wellness and Integrative Health, School of Medicine, College of Health, and the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center. Led by Angie Fagerlin, PhD in collaboration with Robin Marcus PhD, PT, Julie Metos, PhD, and Peter Weir, MD, MPH, this initiative draws on our existing strengths in diabetes and metabolism research, and health and wellness initiatives, as well as our emerging strengths and emphasis on population health.
Education and Prevention Outreach
Robin Marcus, PhD, PT, Angie Fagerlin, PhD, and Peter Weir, MD, MPH, are heading up the launch of a mobile health clinic that will provide education and health screening directly to those who might otherwise lack access to quality care. The initiative will also expand our preventive screening programs and implement an online diabetes prevention program to reach more populations throughout the state and region. Julie Metos, PhD, RD, is launching three programs specifically that teach school-age children and underserved families the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Innovations in Clinical Care
Simon Fisher, MD, PhD, is launching two clinical care programs designed to offer better clinical care for patients that already have diabetes. A new diabetes complications screening program will screen patients for diabetic retinopathy as well as atherosclerosis in leg arteries. Also, a new diabetes outpatient clinical care and education program will provide a combination of individual attention and small-group learning through a one-day seminar to tune up a patient’s diabetes management.
Cutting-Edge Research and Training
Jared Rutter, PhD is heading the effort to catalyze novel research projects in the areas of diabetes, obesity, and metabolism – and to train the next generation of clinicians and researchers. The research and training efforts will span all diabetes and obesity-related areas including basic, translational, clinical, and population health research.
Request for Applications
As part of the research effort, we invite applications for seed funding, and graduate student or postdoctoral fellowships in the amount of $50,000. Applications involving the broad areas of the genetics of diabetes/metabolic disease, drug discovery, and diabetes prevention research are especially encouraged. Applications and all supporting documents should be submitted electronically by August 23, 2017 at
http://utah.infoready4.com/.
