WHAT:

UAB will announce a major diabetes initiative to encompass diagnosis, treatment and research of diabetes. Doctors will also announce a major development regarding the start-up of a pancreatic islet cell transplant program.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 11:15 a.m.

WHERE

UAB Administration Building, penthouse (14th floor)
701 S. 20th St.

WHO:

Dr. Carol Z. Garrison, UAB President
Dr. Bill Koopman, chairman, UAB Department of Medicine
Dr. Devin Eckhoff, director, UAB Division of Transplantation
Mr. Benny LaRussa, community activist
Mr. David Silverstein, community activist
Miss Chelsey LaRussa, juvenile diabetes patient
Miss Sarah Silverstein, juvenile diabetes patient

VISUALS:

B-roll available of islet cell transplant laboratory; immune tolerance research laboratory

WHY:

Diabetes is one of the top health threats in the nation, linked to a high incidence of heart, kidney and eye complications. In 2000, Alabama had the highest rate of type 2 diabetes in the nation. Over 1 million people in the United States have type 1 diabetes, and every year more than 30,000 people are diagnosed. More than 16 million Americans have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and the cost of treatment is approaching $100 million.

UAB’s Diabetes Research and Training Center is poised to assume a leading role in the treatment and research of diabetes.