A total of 68 candidacies have been presented in the first edition of the European Scholarship Program for Research in Type 1 Diabetes Organized by the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), the Foundation for the Research of Youth Diabetes (JDRF) and Lilly
The main objective of this initiative is to promote clinical and basic biomedical research of the highest quality in the field of type 1 diabetes, both in Europe and in non -European countries associated with the JDRF.In addition, it seeks to accelerate the practical application of any scientific advance on the understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of the disease, as well as promoting clinical translational research and increasing knowledge of research in type 1 diabetes in Europe.
Of all the projects presented, five come from Spanish research groups, positioning our country in fifth place, together with France in number of candidacies."This demonstrates the great potential of research in Spain, and the interest of our researchers in European projects, helping science to advance homogeneously in all countries," says Dr. Jesús Reviriego, medical director of Lilly Diabetes.
In general, the scholarships will be granted for a value of 100,000 euros each, although the Deliberation Committee reserves the right to grant greater amounts, depending on the requirements of each investigation, up to a total of 400,000 euros.The ruling by the evaluation committee will be known at the end of October or early November of this year.
Among the main criteria on which the decision of the evaluation committee will be established, the importance of the project is: if the study is related to the objectives of the program;Focus: If the methodology and analysis are well developed;Innovation: News concepts, approaches and methods are used;Researchers: experience and credentials of the participants;Study and budget development environment.The duration of the scholarship can be one year or more, according to the technical needs of each of the projects.
“For Lilly it is a pride to be able to collaborate with the EFSD and the JDRF in this new Diabetes Research Support Program, which we are convinced that important findings that can improve the understanding of type 1 diabetes and, hopefully, can have an impactpositively in the quality of life of people who live today with diabetes, ”explains Dr. Reviriego.
In this first edition, this scholarship program will pay special attention to projects focused on:
- Research that can help increase the knowledge of natural history, pathogenesis, and/or heterogeneity of type 1 diabetes in humans.
- Biology of pancreatic beta cells and possible regeneration approaches with human beta cells.
- Pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes autoimmune with focus on the possible therapeutic targets and immunoregulation of the self-peculin-specimen of type 1 diabetes.
- Therapies that delay or stop the progression of type 1 diabetes before symptomatic disease or preserve the function of beta cells.
- Biomaterials for replacement of encapsulated beta cells.
- Automated artificial pancreatic systems of closed loop and its components.
- Therapies, new or improved, to increase glycemic control and, in general, metabolic type 1 diabetes.
- Glucose sensitive insulin.
- Treatments that prevent the progression of renal and ocular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes.
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