The American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced recipients of this year’s prestigious Pathway to Stop Diabetes grants, totaling $4.875 million dollars.
Three researchers are the winners, with each scientist receiving $1.625 million dollars over a five-year grant term to support breakthroughs in basic science, clinical science, technology, care, and potential cures in the field of diabetes.
Since the program’s inception in 2014, it has been working to transform diabetes research by attracting brilliant scientists to diabetes research through substantial financial support, as well as professional mentorship and guidance.
“We are incredibly proud we have been able to support 32 researchers through the Pathway to Stop Diabetes research grant since 2014,” said Dr. William T. Cefalu, ADA’s Chief Scientific, Medical and Mission Officer. “Each recipient helps investigate novel methods to better detect, diagnosis, manage, and someday possibly cure diabetes.”
2019 Pathway to Stop Diabetes grant recipients and the focus of their research are as follows:
- Dr. Ebony B. Carter, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri: Pathway Accelerator Award for her clinical research project titled, “Targeted lifestyle change group prenatal care for obese women at high risk for gestational diabetes: a randomized controlled trial.”
- Dr. Sarah A. Tishkoff, University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia: Pathway Visionary Award for her basic research project titled, “Genetic risk factors for diabetes in populations of African Ancestry.”
- Dr. Matthew J. Webber, University of Notre Dame, in Notre Dame, Indiana: Pathway Accelerator Award for his bioengineering project titled, “Hypoglycemic rescue with glucose-responsive glucagon delivery devices.”
Pathway awardees are selected by the ADA’s Mentor Advisory Group—eminent scientists from diabetes and other fields who review the core elements of exceptional science in selecting an applicant: rigorous thought processes, keen intellect, and capacity for innovation, creativity, and productivity.
The advisors also provide the Pathway grant recipients with mentorship and scientific and professional guidance throughout the term of their grant.
In addition to the substantial and flexible financial support and mentorship, the program provides grant recipients with networks for communication and collaboration, special symposia and speaking engagements, and unique collaborative opportunities that will accelerate the advancement and translation of their science, and lead to breakthrough discoveries.
The program is supported by more than $52 million in contributions from corporate sponsors, including Novo Nordisk, 2019 Pathway Visionary sponsor; Eli Lilly and Company, 2019 Pathway Discovery Sponsor; AstraZeneca and Merck, 2019 Pathway Initiator sponsors, along with generous support from several corporate contributors, individuals, and foundations.
The funds allow the Pathway grant program to extend support to individuals who are just starting their independent research careers, as well as to exceptional scientists already established in other fields of research who want to apply their expertise to diabetes.
The ADA is now accepting nominations for the 2020 class of Pathway awardees. The Pathway program seeks to bring new investigators and new perspectives to diabetes research.
Applicants must be nominated by an accredited academic and non-profit research institution in the U.S. prior to submitting an application. Institutions may nominate a maximum of one investigator per grant cycle. For more information on the nomination process, visit diabetes.org/pathway.
American Diabetes Association.
Source:
- American Diabetes Association® Names Three Awardees for $4.875 Million in 2019 Pathway to Stop Diabetes Research Grants. (2019, February, 15). Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2019/pathway-stop-diabetes-research-grants-awardees-named.html