The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a new strategic plan to guide diabetes-related research over the next decade. The plan, developed by the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee (DMICC) a congressionally authorized work group led by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), identifies research opportunities with the greatest potential to benefit the millions of Americans who are living with or are at risk for diabetes and its complications.
Key elements of the report were identified by multiple public and private stakeholders, including representatives of DMICC member agencies, health advocacy groups, and external scientists who are leaders in the diabetes research field. A draft of the plan was also posted for public comment prior to publication.
“By setting priorities and identifying the most compelling research opportunities, the strategic plan will guide NIH, other federal agencies, and the investigative community in efforts to improve diabetes treatments and identify ways to keep more people healthy,” said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, MD, MACP.
The plan, Advances and Emerging Opportunities in Diabetes Research: A Strategic Planning Report of the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee, focuses on ten areas of diabetes research with the most promise. The goal is to accelerate discovery on several fronts, including:
- The genetic basis of type 1 type and type 2 diabetes, obesity, and their complications.
- The autoimmune mechanisms at work in type 1 diabetes.
- The biology of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.
- The development of artificial pancreas technologies to improve glycemic management.
- The prevention of diabetes-related complications.
- The reduction of the impact of diabetes on groups disproportionately affected by the disease.
Under the plan, NIH will continue to emphasize clinical research in humans, which already has led to effective methods for managing diabetes and preventing complications, Rodgers said.
The strategic plan is available at http://diabetesplan.niddk.nih.gov/
