Diabetes Research & Training Center

本提案是对NIDDK RFA-DK-06-014的回应，标题为“华盛顿大学糖尿病研究和培训中心（WU DRTC）"。总体目标是支持华盛顿大学医学院（WUMS）糖尿病研究人员共享的集中资源，设施和专业知识，促进发现导致疾病及其并发症的基本机制，并将这些信息转化为预防，治疗和治愈。目前，在其第30个年头的资金，WU DRTC有一个值得骄傲的历史，主要贡献糖尿病研究。在2002年至今的资助期间，积极的势头继续保持，新成员增加了65%，NIH对糖尿病相关研究的资助也有类似的增加，一个充满活力的试点和可行性计划（PFP），DRTC核心出版物总数（872）方面的显著生产力，以及对核心设施作出重大改变，使其更能满足使用者的需要。在下一个资助周期中，我们计划继续发展，使WU DRTC能够响应糖尿病研究界不断变化的期望。我们特别敏感地认识到，需要证明我们的研究进展与社会需求的相关性，并将基础实验室的进展转化为糖尿病患者护理的改善。最值得注意的是，2005年秋季开始与圣路易斯大学公共卫生学院（SLU-SPH）开展新的重大合作。这所公共卫生学院是密苏里州唯一一所这样的学校，其资源与WUMS在基础和临床糖尿病研究方面的优势相结合，提供了一种有力的伙伴关系，有望继续在糖尿病的诊断、治疗和预防方面取得重大进展。总之，WU DRTC现在已将自己定位为通过以下方式继续应对当前RFA的挑战：1）随着糖尿病相关研究资金的相应增加，沿着增加DRTC用户群，2）与SLU-SPH结成联盟，以扩大转化研究和社区外展，3）与WU CNRU建立更密切的互动，以共享核心资源和丰富活动，4）通过改善与心血管研究中心的互动，加强我们在糖尿病心血管疾病重要领域的存在，5）与临床和转化科学研究所建立伙伴关系，这将显著提高我们的成员进行人类研究的机会，以及6）发展WUMS-Barnes犹太糖尿病中心，为我们社区的糖尿病患者提供最先进的护理。我们相信，这些新方向将导致1）个体研究者更有效地利用使能技术; 2）旨在临床前开发潜在治疗策略的更大合作;以及3）更快地将初步发现转化为糖尿病和相关代谢和内分泌疾病的有效治疗方法。这里提出的具体目标就是为了实现这些目标。

This proposal is in response to NIDDK RFA-DK-06-014 and is entitled "Washington University Diabetes Research and Training Center (WU DRTC)". The overall goal is to support centralized resources, facilities, and expertise shared by diabetes investigators at Washington University Medical School (WUMS), to promote the discovery of fundamental mechanisms leading to the disease and its complications, and to translate this information into prevention, treatments, and cures. Currently in its 30th year of funding, the WU DRTC has a proud history of major contributions to diabetes research. Positive momentum has continued during the funding period of 2002-present with a 65% increase in new members, a similar increase in NIH funding for diabetes-related research, a vibrant Pilot and Feasibility Program (PFP), significant productivity in terms of total number of publications attributable to the DRTC Cores (872), and substantial changes in the Core facilities to make them more responsive to the needs of the users. In the next funding cycle we plan to continue to evolve so that the WU DRTC is responsive to the changing expectations of the diabetes research community. We are particularly sensitive to the need to demonstrate the relevance of our research advances to the needs of society and to translate basic laboratory advances to improvements in the care of diabetics. Most notable is the development of a major new collaboration with St. Louis University School of Public Health (SLU-SPH) initiated in the fall of 2005. The resources of this School of Public Health, which is the only such school in Missouri, when coupled with the strengths at WUMS in basic and clinical diabetes research, provides a potent partnership that promises to be able to continue to make significant advances in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetes. In summary, the WU DRTC has now positioned itself to continue to meet the challenges of the current RFA by 1) increasing the DRTC user base along with a commensurate increase in diabetes-related research funding, 2) forming an alliance with SLU-SPH for expanding translational research and community outreach, 3) developing closer interaction with the WU CNRU for sharing of core resources and enrichment activities, 4) enhancing our presence in the important area of diabetic cardiovascular disease by improved interaction with the Center for Cardiovascular Research, 5) forming a partnership with the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences that will markedly enhance our members' opportunities to conduct human research, and 6) developing the WUMS-Barnes Jewish Diabetes Center, that provides state-of-the-art care of diabetic patients in our community. We believe that these new directions will result in 1) greater efficiency in utilizing enabling technologies by individual investigators; 2) greater collaboration aimed at preclinical development of potential therapeutic strategies; and, 3) faster translation of initial discoveries into useful treatments for diabetes and related metabolic and endocrine disorders. The specific aims proposed here are designed to accomplish these goals.