Thursday Media Briefing: UAB Gets Multimillion Dollar NIH Grant, New Diabetes Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) one of only six Diabetes Research and Training Centers (DRTC) in the country, putting UAB at the forefront in the development of new methods to treat, prevent and, ultimately, cure diabetes and its complications. The NIH award provides UAB $6.3 million over five years to grow its diabetes initiatives. The DRTC is part of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center.

April 2, 2008

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) one of only six Diabetes Research and Training Centers (DRTC) in the country, putting UAB at the forefront in the development of new methods to treat, prevent and, ultimately, cure diabetes and its complications. The NIH award provides UAB $6.3 million over five years to grow its diabetes initiatives. The DRTC is part of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center.

A media briefing on the grant will be held Thursday, April 3 at noon at the UAB Hospital West Pavilion Conference Center. Please meet with the media relations escort on 19th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue South, under the green awning.

The following doctors will be available for interviews:

Timothy Garvey, M.D., principal investigator of the DRTC and professor of nutrition sciences;

John Corbett, Ph.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center

Richard Marchase, Ph.D., UAB vice president of research and economic development

Robert Rich, M.D., dean, UAB School of Medicine

Harold Jones, Ph.D., dean, UAB School of Health Professions

The DRTC designation from the NIH will allow UAB to provide an outstanding environment for faculty career development and student training in diabetes research while working to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes and increase the quality of life for diabetes patients.