ADA Initiates Cutting-Edge Research Program to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes to initiate a cutting-edge research program aimed at preventing type 1 diabetes. …
Contacts:
Entelos, Inc American Diabetes
Association
Allyson Zwahlen Diane Tuncer
zwahlen@enteloscom dtuncer@diabetesorg
Tel: 16505725488 Tel: 17035491500
For immediate release:
ADA Initiates Cutting-Edge Research Program to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes
Entelos and ADA to Make In Silico Technology Available to Academic
Researchers
Orlando, FL June 5th, 2004 - The American Diabetes Association ADA today
announced during a press briefing at the ADAs 64th Scientific Sessions a
collaboration with Entelos Inc, to initiate a cutting-edge research
program aimed at preventing type 1 diabetes
Entelos is a biotech company pioneering in silico in computer research
and the use of computer models to advance pharmaceutical research and
development The ADA and Entelos will develop an in silico research
platform based on a non-obese diabetic NOD mouse, the primary animal
model used by researchers to study type 1 diabetes The platform will
initially be used by Entelos and certain
academic research laboratories to
address key scientific questions related to the onset and progression of
this disease The first academic centers to receive the technology will be
those led by members of the ADAs type 1 diabetes Scientific Advisory
Board, which has been formed to provide scientific guidance and oversight
to the collaboration Over time, the platform will also be made available
to other academic researchers through the ADAs grant process It is
anticipated that the improved scientific understanding gained through this
effort will lead to therapies for the prevention of human type 1 diabetes
The Scientific Advisory Board consists of key thought leaders and
researchers in the area of type 1 diabetes research and each member will
contribute to the collaboration by providing advice and guidance to the
development of the model Members include Aldo Rossini, MD of University
of Massachusetts and last years Banting medal winner; Jeff Bluestone,
PhD of University California San Francisco and Director of Immune
Tolerance Network; George Eisenbarth, MD, PhD of University Colorado
Health Science Center
and Executive Director of Barbara Davis Center; Mark
Atkinson, PhD of University of Florida and this years OSAA winner; and
Diane Mathis, PhD of the Joslin Diabetes Center and Academy of Sciences
member
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease that affects approximately one
million people, most of them children, in the US alone The disease
arises from the auto-immune destruction of islet
-more-
ADA Initiates Cutting-Edge Research Program2
beta-cells in the pancreas, leading to the failure to produce insulin which
causes a loss of glucose control The current treatment for type 1 diabetes
is the daily injection of insulin Scientific understanding of this disease
in humans has been limited by the difficulty of identifying those people
likely to develop the disease as well as practical considerations in
studying humans with the condition At this time there are no preventative
treatments available for human type 1 diabetes
Entelos PhysioLab systems biology platforms employ sophisticated
mathematical models to integrate information from diverse scientific and
clinical sources to represent the
complex and dynamic relationships within
human biological networks
Dr Richard Kahn, PhD, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ADA stated
during the press briefing, The first-generation NOD PhysioLab platform and
the research that will follow from its use will help uncover the critical
pathways that contribute to and regulate auto-immunity and cell destruction
in type 1 diabetes This will give us tremendous insight into the disease
and aid in the identification and development of potential therapies to
prevent its onset
Dr Mikhail Gishizky, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for Entelos, added,
Although numerous therapies have been shown to inhibit the development of
type 1 diabetes in the NOD mouse, success in advancing these therapies to
human patients has been limited Through the use of predictive
mathematical models, the research community will have a significant
scientific advancement which will ultimately improve the rationale for
taking novel interventions into humans
Entelos, Inc wwwenteloscom is revolutionizing pharmaceutical RD by
employing disease level system biology technologies to identify and
validate
targets, biomarkers and compounds for human efficacy Our
breakthrough PhysioLab systems biology platforms employ sophisticated
mathematical models to integrate information from diverse scientific and
clinical sources to represent the complex and dynamic relationships within
human biological networks Our primary mission is to increase the
efficiency of pharmaceutical research and development and to expedite
proprietary human therapeutics to the market We have multiple PhysioLab
platforms in immunology and metabolism and are currently developing new
platforms in cardiovascular, CNS and oncology
The American Diabetes Association wwwdiabetesorg is the nations
leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research,
information and advocacy Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes
Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities
Entelos is a registered trademark of Entelos, Inc PhysioLab is a trademark
and service mark of Entelos, Inc All other trademarks are the property of
their registered
owners
Source:sitandbefit.org
