December 2007 eUpdate
Research News
UCSF HONORS VISIONARY BIOTECH PIONEER WHO HELPED TO CREATE HUMAN INSULIN While leading the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Hormone Research Institute, William J. Rutter, PhD helped UCSF to make some of its most important contributions in biotechnology -- including the cloning of the genes for insulin and human growth hormone. It was these discoveries that spurred the creation of the world’s first biotech company, Genentech Inc., and Chiron Corp., the company Dr. Rutter co-founded. Dr. Rutter is credited with assembling an impressive group of researchers to work with him including the Diabetes Center’s Associate Director and Clinical Director, Michael German, MD, and Diabetes Center Faculty Members, Steinunn Baekkeskov, PhD, and Doug Hanahan, PhD. Even in his current role of UCSF Professor Emeritus, Dr. Rutter has remained an active leader in UCSF’s development efforts including its new Mission Bay Campus. Last month, the state-of-the-art community center at Mission Bay was named after Dr. Rutter. [ more ]
Clinical News
CHAIR AWARDED TO PEDIATRIC DIABETES CLINICIAN AND RESEARCHER Thanks to a generous gift made possible by a family whose lives have been impacted by type 1 diabetes, the Mary B. Olney MD / KAK Chair in Pediatric Diabetes and Clinical Research has been awarded to Steve Gitelman, MD, Director of the UCSF Pediatric Diabetes Program. Dr. Olney was a visionary UCSF physician who founded one of the first camps for diabetic children in 1938, and created the Diabetic Youth Foundation – an organization that continues today and operates Bearskin Meadow Camp. Even though Dr. Olney passed away in 1993, her legacy of “treating the whole child” continues to thrive today through Dr. Gitelman and his Pediatric Diabetes Team. Dr. Gitelman is an accomplished pediatric diabetologist and an international leader in type 1 diabetes clinical research. The Pediatric Diabetes Clinic provides care for over 600 children and adolescents with diabetes, with 5-10 new patients added each month. [ more ]
SAVE THE DATE – 2008 PEDIATRICS AND ADULT PATIENT SYMPOSIUMS The annual UCSF Pediatric Diabetes Symposium & Kids Kamp is being held on Saturday, March 1, 2008, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus in San Francisco. The annual UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center’s Adult Patient Symposium is being held on Saturday, April 19, 2008, 7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at the UCSF Laurel Heights Campus in San Francisco. More information on these educational programs will be provided in future issues of eUpdate.
News & Notes
ART SALES TO BENEFIT DIABETES CENTER Through the end of 2007, the Roche Bobois Showroom is featuring the work of two talented artists: Linda Mayne , a Marin County artist and longtime friend of the Diabetes Center, and Larry Mason , a Pacific Northwest artist specializing in watercolors. A percentage of all paintings sold will benefit the Diabetes Center at UCSF. Roche Bobois is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Design Center (8th & Townsend). Thanks to Linda, Larry, Roche Bobois, European Designs, and Joe Vincent Designs for their support.
UCSF PHYSICIAN AUTHORS NEW BOOK, “DIABETES DEMYSTIFIED” McGraw Hill has just published “Diabetes DeMystified: A Self-Teaching Guide” , written by our very own UCSF physician and clinical researcher, Umesh Masharani, M.D. This easy-to-understand guide helps you and your loved ones incorporate diabetes care into your daily life without feeling overwhelmed. More information on Dr. Masharani’s book can be found on Amazon. [ more ]
Clinical Trials
The Diabetes Center at UCSF is among the premier institutions for clinical trials of emerging therapies in diabetes. Numerous clinical trials in type 1 and 2 diabetes are now underway.
Interested in participating? A sample of our trials currently enrolling patients:
Type 1 Diabetes: Thymoglobulin Intervention Study Seeking volunteers, 12 to 35 years of age, with new onset type 1 diabetes [ more ]
Type 1 Diabetes: Islet Transplantation with Raptiva
Seeking volunteers 18 and older, with type 1 diabetes and weighing less than 175 lbs [ more ]
Type 1 Diabetes: Teplizumab (HOKT3Y1 (Ala-Ala)) [Protégé Study] Seeking volunteers, 16 to 35 years of age, within 12 weeks of diagnosis [ more ]
For more opportunities, visit the Clinical Trials section of our website , or contact Kathleen Fraser, our Clinical Trials Recruitment Coordinator at kfraser@diabetes.ucsf.edu.
Year-End Message from Diabetes Center Director, Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone
This past year has brought many exciting new developments to the Diabetes Center at UCSF. Recently, members of our team have improved a technique for genetically reprogramming mouse cells to become embryonic stem cells – a great advancement in stem cell research. Additionally, numerous faculty members have received highly coveted national awards to further their cutting-edge research in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. And last but not least, private industry has recently embraced our drug that has been in development for well over a decade -- Anti-CD3. This is the first exclusively type 1 diabetes treatment to progress this far in drug development!
In this season where friends and family are so important, it is only fitting that we acknowledge the tremendous support of our extended family – patients, volunteers, and all of our supporters throughout the world. It is through the unwavering generosity of so many of you that 2007 has been a year to remember at the Diabetes Center.
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Diabetes Center at UCSF, we wish you the healthiest and happiest holiday season.
Jeffrey A. Bluestone, PhD, Director, UCSF Diabetes Center