New funding initiative to boost EU diabetes research
Diabetes research in Europe has received a significant boost with the announcement of a major funding initiative to further understanding of the vascular complications of Type 2 diabetes. Research grants totalling 1 million euro over the period 2002-2004 are being provided by French pharmaceutical company Servier. The funding will be jointly awarded by the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), the research foundation of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and Servier. Four grants will be awarded in 2002, and three in 2003 and 2004. The funding will be awarded to non-profit making institutions for European projects that improve the understanding of the vascular complications of Type 2 diabetes. Special consideration will be given to projects aimed at clarifying the molecular mechanisms of such diabetic complications. Announcing the new initiative at the annual EASD conference in Glasgow, Scotland, from 9 to 13 September, association president Professor Jørn Nerup said that diabetes currently accounts for between 9-15 per cent of western healthcare budgets. 'It is sad that more than 85 per cent of the cost of diabetes is spent on complications, therefore high quality research is desperately needed,' Professor Nerup said. 'We need to catch the eyes and ears of governments and other funding agencies [to let them know] that something desperately needs to be done.' Professor Philippe Halban, President of the EFSD, described the partnership with Servier as 'a wonderful example of effective collaboration between academic medical concern and industry.' He added: 'We are hoping that not only will this bring much-needed money into diabetes research very rapidly, but will serve as a beacon to other agencies, whether on a national or European Union level, that something has to be done fast.' It is hoped the new initiative will be a first step towards closing the diabetes funding gap between Europe and the USA and help to reverse the brain drain of diabetes researchers to the USA. In 2000, less than 60 million euro was committed to diabetes research in Europe, compared with 1 billion euro in the USA over the same period. A scientific review committee of four independent experts will consider all applications at the beginning of each year and shortlist those that they consider to be of the greatest scientific merit. Grant awards will be announced each May. Submissions are now being invited for the 2002 grants.