News Releases

2018

In type 1 diabetes, high glucose levels may boost heart damage from autoimmunity: BOSTON – (November 26, 2018) – Relatively little is known about what causes the high rates of cardiovascular disease among people with type 1 diabetes. Joslin Diabetes Center scientists now have discovered that people with type 1 diabetes are more likely to show signs of an autoimmune reaction to the heart if they have chronically high levels of blood glucose.
Study indicates that fathers who exercise before conception produce children who are healthier throughout their lives: Recent studies have linked development of type 2 diabetes and impaired metabolic health individuals to their parents’ poor diet, and there is increasing evidence that fathers play an important role in obesity and metabolic programming of their offspring.
Using Technology to Manage Diabetes Maximizes Time, Resources and Health Outcomes : BOSTON (October 15, 2018) – Harnessing the power of digital health technology --- smart phone apps, telemedicine and mobile health (m-health) --- can provide powerful tools to help people with diabetes self-management, ultimately improving A1c levels, reducing complications and lowering healthcare costs, suggests a recent systematic review of studies first published online September 27 in the journal Cell Metabolism.
How teens with type 1 diabetes can guard their hearts: BOSTON – (October 11, 2018) – People with type 1 diabetes are far more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without diabetes. Their risks climb even higher if they show signs of hypertension (high blood pressure) or dyslipidemia (unhealthy levels of cholesterol or triglycerides).
Changes to RNA may impact growth and function of insulin-producing cells: BOSTON – (October 11, 2018) – To avoid diabetes, we need healthy populations of the pancreatic “beta” cells that produce insulin for us. Research at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston now has shown that the health of these crucial cell populations can be regulated in part by an unexpected biological route—dynamic modifications of RNA involved in the biological pathways that signal the cells to grow and secrete insulin.
Nutrients may reduce blood glucose levels: BOSTON – (October 10, 2018) – Type 2 diabetes is driven by many metabolic pathways, with some pathways driven by amino acids, the molecular building blocks for proteins. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have shown that one amino acid, alanine, may produce a short-term lowering of glucose levels by altering energy metabolism in the cell.
Genetic analyses hone risk prediction for coronary disease: BOSTON – (September 27, 2018) – Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading killer of people with type 2 diabetes, and it’s not a secret killer.
Muscle “switch” may control the benefits of exercise: BOSTON - (August 2, 2018) - Some people respond well to both aerobic exercise and strength training, while others don’t. And some of us respond well to only one of those things, but not both. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have uncovered a surprising molecular “switch” that may help to explain this lack of response to exercise and to give clues to better treatments against diabetes.
Study suggests ways DPP-4 inhibitor might prevent kidney disease: BOSTON – (July 23, 2018) – Researchers have long sought drugs that could help to prevent diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which afflicts about 40% of people with type 2 diabetes. Among the current contenders are a class of diabetes management drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors.
Joslin’s Views in Line with ADA and JDRF on New Study Results: BOSTON – (June 26, 2018) – Since the publication of results of a study regarding type 1 diabetes by Dr. Denise Faustman, clinicians at Joslin Diabetes Center have received several inquiries from patients. We would like to let all of our patients and supporters know that our views on the results of the study are in line with those of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the JDRF, as outlined in this joint statement shared below.
Gut microbes may contribute to depression and anxiety in obesity: BOSTON – (June 18, 2018) – Like everyone, people with type 2 diabetes and obesity suffer from depression and anxiety, but even more so. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have demonstrated a surprising potential contributor to these negative feelings – and that is the bacteria in the gut or gut microbiome, as it is known.
Decades of type 1 diabetes linked to mild drop in cognition: BOSTON – (June 5, 2018) – People who live with type 1 diabetes for very long duration show signs of mild decreases in cognitive abilities, primarily in memory, compared to those who don’t have the disease, Joslin Diabetes Center researchers have shown.
Study Identifies Clear Predictors of Changing Insulin Requirements and Rising A1c Levels in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (June 5, 2018) – Managing type 1diabetes during the first two decades of life is challenging. Insulin requirements change along with the stages of life --- childhood, puberty, young adulthood, and beyond. But a 20-year longitudinal study conducted by researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School identifies clear predictors of rising A1c levels in young persons, as well as ways to improve glycemic control in this population. The study has been published online by Diabetic Medicine.
Joslin Program for Hospitalized Patients with Diabetes Reduces Readmission Rates and Cuts Hospital Costs: BOSTON – (May 15, 2018) – A retrospective study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care suggests that a program developed by Joslin Diabetes Center to manage hospitalized patients who have diabetes not only improves clinical outcomes, but also significantly reduces hospital costs.
Hormone from fat boosts metabolism in both exercise and cold: BOSTON – (May 1, 2018) – Sad but true, we don’t all respond equally to exercise. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have uncovered a new kind of clue to this variable response—a hormone whose levels in the bloodstream rise sharply in exercise as well as in cold.
Risk of type 1 diabetes climbs when one population of T cells falls: BOSTON – (April 5, 2018) – In autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, some of the immune system’s T cells mistakenly attack the body’s own cells, while protective T regulatory cells try to defend against that attack. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have shown in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes that animals with fewer of a poorly studied type of T regulatory cells are much more likely to develop the disease.
Obesity Surgery Linked To Positive Outcomes In Very Obese Teens With Diabetes: BOSTON – (March 22, 2018) – While it’s not news that weight loss and medication control type 2 diabetes, a secondary analysis found that bariatric surgery could potentially be an effective option for very obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes, lowering blood glucose levels, improving weight loss and returning cholesterol and blood pressure levels to normal. The study is published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Joslin Diabetes Center Strongly Disagrees with American College of Physicians’ Newly Released Guidance for Physicians Recommending Higher A1C Targets for Non-Pregnant Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – (March 14, 2018) – Joslin Diabetes Center has serious concerns regarding portions of a newly released set of guidance statements for clinicians in assessing appropriate A1C targets for non-pregnant adults with type 2 diabetes.
Insulin Goes Viral: BOSTON – (February 19, 2018) – Every cell in your body responds to the hormone insulin, and if that process starts to fail, you get diabetes. In an unexpected finding, scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified four viruses that can produce insulin-like hormones that are active on human cells. The discovery brings new possibilities for revealing biological mechanisms that may cause diabetes or cancer.
New Glucagon Delivery System Reduces Episodes of Post-Bariatric Surgery Hypoglycemia: BOSTON – (February 7, 2018) – A new “smart” glucagon delivery system created by researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences may make it possible for people with post-bariatric hypoglycemia to live free from this dangerous complication. The findings are important because the number of bariatric surgeries is going up and physicians do not have adequate tools to treat this condition. The research appears in the February issue of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.
Eye and Heart Complications Are Tightly Linked in Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (January 31, 2018) – In people with type 1 diabetes, high levels of blood glucose eventually can harm blood vessels in the eye, kidney, heart and other organs—but the damage may be inflicted by different biological mechanisms in different organs. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have shown that similar mechanisms may also be at work in the eye and the heart, giving valuable clues that eventually aid in developing therapies that defend against complications.
EMTs Not Allowed to Administer Glucagon: Boston, MA—(January 16, 2018) — For people with diabetes, a hypoglycemic episode where blood sugar drops dangerously can mean the loss of brain tissue or even death. But if you call 911 due to a hypoglycemic episode there is roughly a 3 in 4 chance the emergency medical responder will be unable to give you glucagon, a life-saving medication that stops the attack, according to a recent finding published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study was co-authored by Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, and Chief Medical Officer at Joslin, Nicole E. Wagner, B.A. of Joslin, and Peter A. Kahn, MD, MPH, ThM, of Yale School of Medicine.
Massachusetts House and Senate Come Together to “Screen at 23”: Boston, MA – (January 22, 2018) – Legislators from both the Massachusetts House and Senate have voted on a Joint Resolution to urge the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other public and private health providers to screen Asian Americans for diabetes at a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23, which is a lower screening BMI than for the general population.

2017

Trial Suggests Way to Personalize Heart Health in Diabetes: BOSTON – (November 29, 2017) – Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have taken another step toward solving a long-standing puzzle about heart health in type 2 diabetes, with a finding that eventually may point towards more personalized patient care.
Different Sugars, Different Risks to Your Liver: BOSTON – (October 3, 2017) – If you’re one of the two billion people in the world who are over-weight or obese, or the one billion people with fatty liver disease, your doctor’s first advice is to cut calories—and especially to cut down on concentrated sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup, a sugar found in sweetened beverages and many other processed foods.
George King, MD, Honored at the GK50 Healthcare and Life Sciences : Boston – (September 18, 2017) – George L. King, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Joslin Diabetes Center received the Founders Choice Award during GK50, an event celebrating the Boston area’s 50 Most Influential People of Color in Healthcare and Life Sciences. The GK50 Health and Life Sciences event is part of Get Konnected! a networking series started by African American public relations entrepreneur, Colette Phillips, that brings together business and social innovation leaders to encourage diversity in the business world, and to raise awareness about people of color in positions of power, as well as trailblazers and emerging leaders.
Finding A Natural Defense against Clogged Arteries: BOSTON – (September 20, 2017) – In type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation drives cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among people with the condition. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have identified an unexpected natural protective factor that works against this inflammation.
Joslin Diabetes Center Signs Agreement with China Horae Capital Management Group Co., Ltd.: Boston, Ma. – (September 18, 2017) – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes care and research center, today announced it has signed an agreement with China Horae Capital Management Group Co., Ltd. to advise the Horae Nanjing Diabetes Center project currently in development in the city of Nanjing, China. Initial work for Joslin experts will focus on providing guidance on the scope of the new center and training key leadership. Following that, Joslin experts will help develop the Center’s inpatient and outpatient care models, create the educational curriculum for patients and educate the center’s caregivers.
Medalist Study Underlines Importance of Blood Glucose Control in Older Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (July 26, 2017) – “People are living longer with type 1 diabetes, and the onset of complications is taking longer,” says Hillary Keenan, Ph.D., a Joslin Diabetes Center Assistant Investigator and co-Principal Investigator on the Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study. “Good blood glucose control and exercise are important factors in reducing complications and mortality rates for these older individuals.”
Joslin Diabetes Center Receives $8.4 Million for NIH-Sponsored Diabetes Research Center (DRC) Program: Boston – (July 1, 2017) - Joslin Diabetes Center, the preeminent institution for diabetes research and care, affiliated with Harvard Medical, has been awarded $8.2 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in continued support for Joslin’s Diabetes Research Center (DRC) program. Boston – (July 1, 2017) Joslin Diabetes Center, the preeminent institution for diabetes research and care, affiliated with Harvard Medical, has been awarded $8.2 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in continued support for Joslin’s Diabetes Research Center (DRC) program.
Lloyd Paul Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., Receives the 2017 JDRF Excellence in Clinical Research Award for Type 1 Diabetes Research: Boston - (June 12, 2017) – The JDRF has awarded Lloyd Paul Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., the 2017 JDRF Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine Excellence in Clinical Research Award. The announcement was made during the JDRF One Conference in Chicago, Ill.
Institutions to Focus on Improving Type 1 Diabetes Care with Machine Learning: June 9, 2017 – Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Joslin Diabetes Center, Cyft Inc., and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust have created a new learning health system to improve the care of individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Starting in mid-2017, Children’s Mercy and Joslin will deploy machine learning-enabled solutions to proactively manage health outcomes in patients with T1D at two independent diabetes clinics. Utilizing technology pioneered by Cambridge, Mass.-based Cyft, the project will work to optimize aspects of diabetes management by supplying novel information to clinical staff at the point of treatment.
Joslin Diabetes Center Creates Center for Cell-Based Therapy for Diabetes (CCTD): BOSTON, MA (June 8, 2017) – Researchers and clinicians at Joslin Diabetes Center have established a Center for Cell-Based Therapy for Diabetes (CCTD), the goal of which is to lead the development and translation of cell-based interventions to treat and cure diabetes and its complications. This opportunity has been created by recent groundbreaking discoveries in converting stem cells into functional insulin-producing beta cells, the identification of new growth factors that stimulate beta cell regeneration, novel insights on improving treatments of diabetic complications, and evolving technologies for detection, modulation and protection against the immune responses.
Connecting the dots between insulin resistance, unhealthy blood vessels and cancer: BOSTON – (May 1, 2017) – Over the decades, scientists have repeatedly shown that patients with increased levels of the hormone insulin in their blood can experience increased risks of cancer. Surprisingly, however, Joslin Diabetes Center researchers now have discovered that impaired effects of insulin also can boost these risks.
Forging New Defenses against Diabetic Kidney Disease: BOSTON – (April 24, 2017) – More than 660,000 people in the United States suffer from end-stage kidney disease, which can only be treated by dialysis or kidney transplantation. Almost half of these patients develop the condition as a complication of diabetes. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have revealed an unexpected route to slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease, targeting a biological pathway that is the main channel for the metabolism of glucose in the cell.
New Test Identifies Patients with Diabetes at High Risk of Kidney Failure : BOSTON – (April 18, 2017) - Researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center have developed a prognostic tool that accurately predicts the risk of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This new test could help doctors assess disease risk in their patients and guide researchers to develop more effective therapies to prevent or treat kidney failure. The findings are published online (April 7, 2017) on the Kidney International website ahead of print publication.
Discovering How Insulin-Producing Cells Show Their Age: BOSTON – (April 5, 2017) – Diabetes researchers have puzzled for decades about why insulin-producing beta cells in one pancreatic islet often look and behave quite differently than their counterparts in the same islet or in nearby islets. Using newly identified cellular markers of aging, Joslin Diabetes Center scientists now have shown that this diversity may be driven at least in part by differently aged beta cell populations within the pancreas.
Giving Brown Fat a Green Light: BOSTON – (March 27, 2017) – Activated by cold, the small amounts of brown fat scattered around your body can burn calories to warm you up. They also can help to lower insulin resistance and other conditions implicated in type 2 diabetes and obesity. Since the discovery in 2009 that brown fat can be active in adult humans, researchers around the world have worked to unveil ways to switch on this fat. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have identified a new route to throw the switch.
ARMMS-T2D will investigate which T2D patients will benefit most from bariatric surgery: BOSTON – (March 10, 2017) – Bariatric surgery can reverse type 2 diabetes in severely obese people, reducing or eliminating the need for medications, and improve other serious health problems such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea, but it still remains to be determined which patients with type 2 diabetes will benefit most from surgery.
Helping Beta Cells Divide to Conquer Diabetes: BOSTON – (March 9, 2017) – If you become resistant to insulin, a condition that is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, your body tries to compensate by producing more of the “beta” cells in the pancreas that produce the critical hormone. Researchers have long sought to understand why these cells often fail to proliferate in people who go on to develop the disease. Studying both humans and mice, scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have pinpointed one key biological mechanism that can prevent the cells from dividing successfully.
Signals from Fat May Aid Diagnostics and Treatments: BOSTON – (February 15, 2017) – Fat cells are not simply big blobs of lipid quietly standingby in the body—instead, they send out hormones and other signaling proteins that affect many types of tissues. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have identified a route by which fat also can deliver a form of small RNAs called microRNAs that helps to regulate other organs.
JDC Participating in Two NIH-Funded Artificial Pancreas Clinical Trials: BOSTON – (February 14, 2017) – Joslin Diabetes Center will take part in two clinical trials this year to test artificial pancreas systems designed to automatically monitor and regulate blood glucose levels in people with type 1 diabetes, which would replace traditional methods of managing the disease such as testing blood glucose levels by finger stick or using continuous glucose monitoring systems with separate, non-integrated delivery of insulin by either injections or a pump.
ADA Funds Kostic Lab to Create Model Linking the Microbiome to Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (February 8, 2017) – The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has awarded Joslin Diabetes Center assistant investigator Aleksandar Kostic, Ph.D., a $1.625-million grant under its Pathway to Stop Diabetes program, which seeks to bring new investigators and new perspectives to diabetes research. The funding will support the development of a novel experimental system designed to improve our understanding about how bacteria in the gut (the gut “microbiome”) may contribute to the autoimmune attack that leads to type 1 diabetes.
Research Suggests Way to Improve Stroke Treatments: BOSTON – (January 27, 2017) – The standard of care for treating strokes caused by blood clots involves the therapeutic infusion of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which can help to dissolve the clots and restore blood flow. This “thrombolytic” treatment carries the risk of bleeding and swelling in the brain, and it must be administered within three hours after the start of the stroke, which sharply limits its clinical benefits.
Smith Family Foundation Award to Kostic Lab Will Advance Knowledge of Diabetes and the Microbiome: BOSTON – (January 26, 2017) – Aleksandar Kostic, Ph.D., an assistant investigator at the Joslin Diabetes Center, has received a Smith Family Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research to support work exploring environmental factors that trigger the autoimmune attack behind type 1 diabetes.
Cholesterol - Good for the Brain, Bad for the Heart: BOSTON – (January 19, 2017) – Healthy brains need plenty of cholesterol for nerve cells to grow and work properly, but diabetes can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the brain, as a Joslin Diabetes Center team has demonstrated. Joslin researchers and their colleagues now have gone on to show that mice that are genetically modified to suppress cholesterol production in the brain show dramatic symptoms of neurological impairment.
Studying Fat on a Fast Track: BOSTON – (January 17, 2017) – Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have developed adult mice that can generate white fat and brown fat surprisingly quickly, providing a powerful new research model for obesity, diabetes and other metabolic conditions.
Dr. Jennifer K. Sun Selected as National Chair of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network : BOSTON – (January 9, 2017) - Jennifer K. Sun, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Chief for the Center for Clinical Eye Research and Trials of the Beetham Eye Institute at Joslin Diabetes Center, has been selected to become the 4th National Chair for diabetic eye research initiatives of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net).
Weight Loss and Its Cardiovascular Benefits Continue for Five Years in Real-World Clinical Practice: BOSTON – (January 4, 2017) – Joslin Diabetes Center’s intensive life-style intervention program for obese patients with diabetes continues to offer health benefits for participants five years after they begin the intervention, a new study demonstrates. Participants in the Why WAIT (Weight Achievement and Intensive Management) program lost substantial amounts of weight, and even those who maintained relatively little loss of weight after five years demonstrated reduced risks of cardiovascular disease.
Study Suggests Route to Improve Artery Repair: BOSTON – (January 4, 2017) – People with any form of diabetes are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular conditions than people without the disease. Moreover, if they undergo an operation to open up a clogged artery by inserting a “stent” surgical tube, the artery is much more likely to clog up again. However, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Centers now have uncovered an explanation for why these procedures often fail, which may lead toward better alternatives.

2016

Joslin Diabetes Center Signs Agreement With The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia: BOSTON (December 14, 2016) – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes care and research center, today announced that it has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through which Joslin will provide training and expertise designed to improve diabetes education and care.
Goodyear Lab Receives NIH Grant for Work in MoTrPAC: Laurie J. Goodyear Ph.D., Senior Investigator and co-Head of the Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism at the Joslin Diabetes Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has received one of the first awards for the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity in Humans Consortium (MoTrPac) set up by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a comprehensive map of the molecular changes that occur in the body in response to physical activity.
Matthew D’Errico Joins Joslin Diabetes Center As Vice President, Information Technology: BOSTON (November 21, 2016) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced that Matthew D’Errico has joined its executive team as Vice President, Information Technology. In his new position, Mr. D’Errico oversees Joslin’s information services functions and serves as its Chief Information Security Officer.
How Important Is the Gut Microbiome? It May Depend on Your Genetics: BOSTON – (October 24, 2016) – Our gut microbiomes—the bacteria that live in our digestive tract—play major roles in our health. Scientists around the world are studying therapies that manipulate the microbiome, including probiotics (such as live bacterial cultures in yogurt), prebiotics (edible fibers meant to promote beneficial bacteria), antibiotics and transplants of microbes from healthy people.
Statement from Joslin Diabetes Center on FDA Approval for Hybrid Closed Loop Insulin Delivery System: BOSTON – (September 29, 2016) – The diabetes community received exciting news yesterday with the FDA’s approval of two new devices, including the hybrid closed loop insulin delivery system and a new version of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for healthcare professionals.
Chief, Kidney & Hypertension Section, Dr. Robert Stanton, Receives the 2016 Special Faculty Prize for Sustained Excellence in Teaching from Harvard Medical School: BOSTON – (September 22, 2016) – Robert C. Stanton, M.D., Chief of the Kidney and Hypertension Section and Principal Investigator in the Section on Vascular Cell Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, received a 2016 Harvard Medical School (HMS) Special Faculty Prize for Sustained Excellence in Teaching.
Genes Influence Response to Glycemic Control as a Preventive Therapy for Cardiovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – (September 19, 2016) – Genes play a role in how people with type 2 diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular disease risk respond to intensive glycemic control as an intervention to prevent the disease. That is the major finding of a Joslin-led study which was published online on August 15 in Diabetes Care.
Finding New Targets to Treat Vascular Damage: BOSTON – (August 25, 2016) – Diabetes heightens the risk of vascular damage to heart and limbs, and impairs the ability to repair damage with new growth of blood vessels, called angiogenesis. There are no established drugs to improve angiogenesis in diabetes. However, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have identified a gene called CITED2 in a molecular pathway that may offer targets for drugs that treat these conditions by strengthening angiogenesis.
Umbilical Cells Shed Light on How Obesity May Pass from Mother to Child: BOSTON – (August 22, 2016) – Scientists have long known that infants born to women who are obese show higher risks of obesity, but they don’t fully understand what boosts those risks. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have demonstrated that umbilical cells from children of obese or overweight mothers show impaired expression of key genes regulating cell energy and metabolism, compared to similar cells from babies of non-obese mothers.
In Cells, Some Oxidants Are Needed: BOSTON – (August 18, 2016) – Within our bodies, high levels of reactive forms of oxygen can damage proteins and contribute to diabetic complications and many other diseases. But some studies are showing that these reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules sometimes can aid in maintaining health—findings now boosted by a surprising discovery from Joslin Diabetes Center researchers.
Dr. Jennifer Sun, Investigator in the Section of Vascular Biology, Receives RPB Physician-Scientist Award from Research to Prevent Blindness : BOSTON – (July 19, 2016) – Jennifer K. Sun, M.D., MPH, Investigator in the Section on Vascular Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center, an Ophthalmologist in Beetham Eye Institute (BEI) at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, has been granted an RPB Physician-Scientist Award by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB). Up to $300,000 will be provided over three years. This award allows M.D./Ph.D.s at medical institutions in the United States to devote more time to clinical eye research activities, providing greater opportunities for specialized study with direct application to the patient care. Dr. Sun is one of four RPB Physician-Scientists at four institutions who have received the award since it was re-established in 2015.
Finding New Clues to a Sugar Suspect in Birth Defects: BOSTON – (June 22, 2016) – Most pregnant women with well-controlled diabetes give birth to healthy children. But their babies run much higher risks of birth defects than babies born to women without diabetes, because very early in embryonic development, the babies are exposed to higher levels of glucose in maternal blood. In research done in mice, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have uncovered new clues about the role that glucosamine, another sugar that circulates in blood, can play in early embryonic development.
Unique Collaboration to Establish First Area Cell Transplantation Center: Cambridge, MA (June 22, 2016) - The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, three of Harvard’s clinical affiliates, and a biopharmaceutical company have formed a unique collaboration to establish the Boston Autologous Islet Replacement Program (BAIRT) to accelerate a cure for diabetes.
Overweight and Obese Type 2 Patients Show Significant Improvements with Structured Nutrition Therapy According to New Study: Boston (June 20, 2016) – Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have announced the results of a study that may change how nutrition therapy is delivered to overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes. The “Nutrition Pathway Study” compared three models of nutrition therapy and found that a highly structured nutrition plan provides the most significant impact on A1C, body weight and lipid profiles. The study results were presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 76th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Joslin Diabetes Center Announces Extended Collaboration with Sanofi for the Development of Novel Treatments for Diabetes Complications: Boston – (June 09, 2016) – Joslin Diabetes Center, a research and clinical affiliate of Harvard Medical School, today announced a newly signed collaboration with Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) which extends their ongoing collaboration in exploring novel targets for treatment of diabetes. The parties will direct joint efforts on research and development of new therapeutic options for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, and explore implications of diabetes on cardiovascular disease. The announcement was made ahead of the 2016 American Diabetes Association sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. George King, Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin, to Receive the JDRF Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine Excellence in Clinical Research Award for Type 1 Research: BOSTON – (June 2, 2016) – George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been selected to receive the 2016 JDRF Mary Tyler Moore and S. Robert Levine Excellence in Clinical Research Award. Dr. King will be presented with the award at the JDRF One Conference in Washington, D.C on June 16.
Dr. Gordon Weir, Co-Head of Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin, to Receive the Albert Renold Award for his Significant Impact as a Mentor from the American Diabetes Association : BOSTON – (April 26, 2016) – Gordon Weir, M.D., Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation Chair, Co-Head of Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been selected as the recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2016 Albert Renold Award. Dr. Weir will be presented with the award at the ADA’s 76th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Solving a Genetic Mystery in Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (April 11, 2016) – In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the body’s own insulin-producing cells. Scientists understand reasonably well how this autoimmune attack progresses, but they don’t understand what triggers the attack or how to stop it, says Stephan Kissler, Ph.D., Investigator in the Section on Immunobiology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Natural Killer Cells Help to Drive Inflammation and Insulin Resistance: BOSTON – (March 31, 2016) – In obesity, the body’s immune system can treat tissues as if they are suffering from a low-grade chronic infection. This obesity-induced inflammation is an important contributor to insulin resistance, a condition that can progress into type 2 diabetes. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have pinpointed a major inflammatory role for “natural killer” (NK) immune cells in abdominal fat—a type of tissue strongly implicated in insulin resistance.
Joslin Names Abby and Maddy Conway the 2016 Youth Ambassadors: BOSTON – (March 9, 2016) – Joslin Diabetes Center has named Abby and Maddy Conway the 2016 Merritt Levitan Youth Ambassadors. The 14 year old twins were introduced as the Youth Ambassadors at the 2015 High Hopes Gala on November 21, 2015.
New Scanning Technology Benefits Diabetic Eye Care in National Telemedicine Trial: BOSTON – (March 8, 2016) – In a national clinical trial led by Joslin Diabetes Center’s Beetham Eye Institute, ultrawide field (UWF) scanning technology significantly improved the ability of experts at a remote central location to identify diabetic retinopathy in a patient, and to judge whether the eye disease warranted referring the patient to an ophthalmologist for further care.
Joslin Honors Dr. Gordon Weir and Dr. Susan Bonner-Weir with Global Achievement Award for Breakthroughs in Diabetes Research : BOSTON – (March 1, 2016) – Joslin Diabetes Center is thrilled to announce that Gordon Weir, M.D., Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation Chair and Co-Head of Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Susan Bonner-Weir, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Section on Islet Transplantation and Cell Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, have been selected to receive Joslin’s 2016 Global Achievement Award.
Dr. Rohit N. Kulkarni, Senior Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center, Named Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School: BOSTON – (February 23, 2016) – Rohit N. Kulkarni, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center, has been named Professor of Medicine by Harvard Medical School.
JDRF Appoints Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of Pediatrics at Joslin Diabetes Center, to Research Advisory Committee: BOSTON – (February 16, 2016) - Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., has been appointed to the newly formed Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of the JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Dr. Laffel, who is Chief of the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, is one of five researchers appointed to the RAC.
Brown University Medical School Philanthropy Leader John A. Perry Joins Joslin Diabetes Center as Chief Development Officer : BOSTON – (February 2, 2016) – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world-renowned diabetes expert, has appointed John A. Perry, CFRE, a skilled fundraising professional with extensive experience in healthcare philanthropy, as Chief Development Officer effective February 1.
American Diabetes Association Presents Guidance on Managing Diabetes in Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities: BOSTON – (February 2, 2016) – The care of adults over age 65 with type 2 diabetes is a growing concern: the prevalence of diabetes is highest in this age group and is expected to grow as the U.S. population ages, with many needing care at long-term care (LTC) facilities. To ensure that this population receives proper care, the American Diabetes Association has issued its first position statement to address the management of diabetes in long-term care facilities, which include assisted living, skilled nursing and nursing facilities. The statement appears in the February 2016 issue of Diabetes Care.
Joslin Diabetes Center’s Dr. Lori Laffel, Chief of Pediatrics, Named 2016 Pinnacle Award Honoree for Achievement in the Professions: BOSTON – (January 26, 2016) – The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce has awarded Lori Laffel, M.D., MPH, Chief of the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, the Achievement in the Professions distinction for the 2016 Pinnacle Awards. Dr. Laffel is the only physician to be honored among the eight outstanding female leaders selected for their accomplishments in business and management.
New Approach May Aid Wound Healing in Diabetes: BOSTON – (January 25, 2016) – In people with diabetes, a small skin wound can become a big problem, because wounds don’t heal as well as they do in people without the disease. Impaired healing is a particular concern in chronic diabetic foot ulcers, which lead to more than 80,000 lower limb amputations each year in the United States. Compounding this problem, “there are treatments for chronic wounds, but none of them really works for diabetic patients,” says George King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Is Awarded the Prestigious Wolf Prize in Medicine for Groundbreaking Research in Insulin Signaling: BOSTON – (January 19, 2016) – The Wolf Foundation announced earlier this week that it has awarded the Wolf Prize in Medicine to C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Chief Academic Officer and Senior Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

2015

Liver protein boosts growth of insulin-producing cells : BOSTON – December 14, 2015 – More than a quarter of the 30 million people with diabetes in the United States depend on daily injections of insulin to maintain their blood glucose levels in a healthy range. Scientists are investigating many techniques to help treat or potentially even cure many of these patients by increasing the body’s own insulin-producing pancreatic “beta” cells. Now researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified a key protein produced in the liver that aids in accelerating the growth of these cells.
Lucentis Proves Effective Against Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: BOSTON – November 16, 2015 – A clinical trial among more than 300 patients has found that the drug ranibizumab (Lucentis) is highly effective in treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), a complication of diabetes that can severely damage eyesight. The results, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, demonstrate the first major therapy advance for the condition in nearly 40 years.
Joslin Chief Academic Officer Dr. C. Ronald Kahn Is Awarded The Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes : BOSTON – (November 05, 2015) – The Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma awarded C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Chief Academic Officer and Senior Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, the Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes in a ceremony in Oklahoma City, OK. This award is given on the basis of scientific merit, recognizing a scientist who has made a significant breakthrough in the field of diabetes, with a special emphasis on progress towards a cure.
Peter Amenta M.D., Ph.D. is Named President and CEO of Joslin Diabetes Center: BOSTON – (September 15, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes care and research center, has appointed Peter S. Amenta, M.D., Ph.D., a well-known clinician and scientist with extensive healthcare leadership experience, as President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 5th.
Damage in Retinal Periphery Closely Matches Loss of Blood Flow in People with Diabetes: BOSTON – September 10, 2015 – Research from the Joslin Diabetes Center’s Beetham Eye Institute demonstrated earlier this year that in people with diabetic retinopathy, the presence of lesions in the periphery of their retina substantially increases the risk that the disease will progress more rapidly. A follow-up study has shown that these peripheral lesions, which are not detected by traditional eye imaging, correlate very closely with the loss of retinal blood flow called retinal “non-perfusion” caused by loss of small blood vessels or capillaries.
Genetic Factors Drive Roles of Gut Bacteria in Diabetes and Obesity: BOSTON – (September 2, 2015) – The trillions of bacteria in your digestive system play a major role in your metabolism, and they’re linked to your risks of type 2 diabetes, obesity and the related conditions that make up “metabolic syndrome,” which has become a global health epidemic. Humans and animal models with diabetes and obesity have different gut bacteria than those who don’t, and when scientists transfer microbiota from obese humans or animals to germ-free animals, the recipients are more likely to become obese or diabetic.
In Diabetic Eye Disease, Peripheral Lesions in the Retina Point to Higher Risks of Progression: BOSTON – August 27, 2015 – For decades, clinicians have detected and monitored diabetic eye disease with standard retinal photographs that cover about a third of the retina. In recent years, an emerging class of ultrawide field (UWF) cameras has given a substantially larger view of the retina, providing new insight on the presentation and natural history of retinal disease. Investigators at the Joslin Diabetes Center now have shown that eyes with diabetic retinal lesions predominantly in peripheral areas of the retina that are seen in UWF images but not in traditional retinal photographs show surprisingly higher risks of progressing to advanced stages of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
Joslin Diabetes Center Receives Three Awards from the Boston Business Journal’s 2015 Healthcare Heroes: BOSTON – (August 12, 2015) – The Boston Business Journal (BBJ) has selected three recipients from Joslin Diabetes Center to receive the 2015 Healthcare Heroes Awards, which honors those who have worked tirelessly to improve the overall health and wellness of those living in Massachusetts and beyond. The awardees include Lloyd P. Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Beetham Eye Institute and Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School; Melinda Maryniuk, M.Ed., R.D., C.D.E., Director of Care Programs at Joslin Diabetes Center; and Carla Gomes, proprietor of Antico Forno and Terramia in the North End of Boston.
David DiFiore Joins Joslin Diabetes Center As VP of Clinical Operations: BOSTON – (August 4, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced that David DiFiore has joined its executive team as Vice President of Clinical Operations. In his new position, Mr. DiFiore will be responsible for all clinical operations to ensure Joslin continues delivering cutting-edge diabetes care and research.
New Discovery Provides Insight into the Development of Complications in Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (August 4, 2015) – Joslin scientists have advanced understanding of how the cellular repair process is impaired in type 1 diabetes, which can cause cell death and lead to complications. The findings appear in the August issue of Cell Metabolism.
Human Cell Models Accelerate Research into Brown Fat: BOSTON – (June 16, 2015) – Since the 2009 discovery that energy-burning brown fat can be active in adults, research has raced ahead to understand this tissue and exploit it to treat the epidemic of obesity. Active brown fat also may assist in directly easing the burden of diabetes and related metabolic diseases by lowering the levels of glucose and fatty acids in the bloodstream. But progress in studying human brown fat often has been slowed by difficulties in obtaining and studying samples of the human cells that develop into brown fat.
San MediTech Joins the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) As a Founding Member: BOSTON – (June 11, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that San MediTech, located in Beijing, China, has joined the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) as a Founding Member.
Chief Academic Officer at Joslin, Dr. C. Ronald Kahn Is Awarded the 2015 Endocrine Regulation Prize: BOSTON – (June 1, 2015) – In a ceremony on May 15 in Dublin, Ireland, The Fondation IPSEN awarded C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Chief Academic Officer and Senior Vice President at Joslin Diabetes Center and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, the 2015 Endocrine Regulation Prize. This prize is given to a researcher who has conducted research that provides a better understanding of the role of neuroendocrine interactions in regulating the body’s major metabolic functions. This award recognizes a significant body of work rather than a single discovery.
Joslin Researcher Identifies Inflammatory pathway that offers VEGF-independent target for diabetic macular edema drugs: BOSTON – (May 15, 2015) – Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading source of vision loss around the world, affecting about a fifth of people with long-term diabetes. Drugs that target a protein known as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) inside the eye have greatly improved the treatment options in recent years, but only about half of DME patients are fully responsive to these new therapies.
Joslin Research Discovery Provides Insight into Development of Autoimmunity: BOSTON – (May 12, 2015) – Joslin researchers have uncovered the action of a gene that regulates the education of T cells, providing insight into how and why the immune system begins mistaking the body’s own tissues for targets. The gene, Clec16a, is one of a suite of genes associated with multiple autoimmune disorders, suggesting it is fundamental to the development of autoimmunity. When the researchers turned the Clec16a gene off, mice genetically prone to diabetes were protected from developing the disease.
Three Joslin Diabetes Center Researchers to Receive Awards from the ADA for Outstanding Achievements in Research and Clinical Care: BOSTON – (May 4, 2015) – The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is presenting awards to three researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center at the ADA’s 75th Scientific Sessions in Boston, Massachusetts from June 5 to 9. The recipients are Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of the Section on Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Diabetes at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School; George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; and Osama Hamdy, M.D., Ph.D, FACE, Medical Director of the Obesity Clinical Program at Joslin and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Osama Hamdy, Medical Director of Joslin Diabetes Center’s Obesity Program, to Receive the ADA’s Michaela Modan Memorial Award : BOSTON – (May 4, 2015) – The American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Michaela Modan Memorial Award will be presented to Osama Hamdy, M.D., Ph.D, FACE, Medical Director of the Obesity Clinical Program at Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, for his abstract titled, “The Long-Term Effects of Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Diabetes in a Real-World Clinical Practice: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study.” Dr. Hamdy is one of three Joslin recipients to receive an award at the 75th Scientific Sessions.
Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, Dr. George King Selected to Receive the 2015 Edwin Bierman Award for Outstanding Contributions in Diabetes Research : BOSTON – (May 4, 2015) – The American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced today that George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will receive the 2015 Edwin Bierman Award at the ADA’s 75th Scientific Sessions in Boston, Massachusetts. The Edwin Bierman Award is presented annually to a leading scientist in the field of macrovascular complications. Dr. King is one of three Joslin recipients to receive an award at the 75th Scientific Sessions.
Chief of Pediatrics at Joslin Diabetes Center, Dr. Lori Laffel Recognized by ADA with the 2015 Outstanding Physician Clinician Award : BOSTON – (May 4, 2015) – Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of the Section on Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Diabetes at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, has been selected as the recipient of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2015 Outstanding Physician Clinician Award. Dr. Laffel will be presented with the award at the ADA’s 75th Scientific Sessions in Boston, Massachusetts, during the National Scientific Achievement Awards presentation ceremony. Dr. Laffel is one of three Joslin recipients to receive an award at this year’s 75th Scientific Sessions.
Joslin Research Sheds Light on Type 1 Diabetes-Specific Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): BOSTON – (April 30, 2015) – Diabetes boosts the risks of developing heart conditions, and patient studies within the past few years have shown that people with type 1 diabetes show significantly higher risk of poor outcomes from cardiovascular disease complications than those with type 2 diabetes. Research led by Joslin Diabetes Center's Myra Lipes, MD, has identified one culprit in heart failure—an autoimmune reaction triggered by heart attacks. In a recent Current Diabetes Reports paper, Dr. Lipes and her colleague Alfonso Galderisi review progress in understanding the autoimmune mechanism and taking steps toward diagnosing and treating it.
Joslin Researchers Find Gastric Band and Weight Management Therapies Offer Similar Health Benefits for Overweight Diabetes Patients: BOSTON – (April 28, 2015) – Weight loss is never easy, but it’s important for overweight people with type 2 diabetes seeking to control their blood sugar levels and optimize their health. A small clinical trial among such patients led by Joslin Diabetes Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers now has shown that two approaches—adjustable gastric band surgery and an intensive group-based medical diabetes and weight management program—achieved similar improvements in controlling blood sugar levels after one year.
Dr. Gail Musen’s Research into Cognitive Function in People with Type 2 Diabetes Receives Alzheimer’s Association Grant : BOSTON – (March 19, 2015) – In a ceremony today, the Alzheimer’s Association awarded Gail Musen, Ph.D, Assistant Investigator in the Section on Clinical, Behavioral and Outcomes Research at Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the Investigator-Initiated Research Grant. This is one of the largest grants given out by the association and it was awarded to Dr. Musen for her research into the effects of maintaining cognitive function for people with type two diabetes.
Joslin Diabetes Center and DGFEZ Sign MOU to Explore Opportunities to Collaborate : BOSTON – (March 12, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center and Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone (DGFEZ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing their mutual strong commitment to navigate avenues for potential partnership.
Joslin Partners with Sunshine Insurance Group Corporation to Develop a Diabetes Center of Excellence in China: Beijing/ Boston – (March 10, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center and Sunshine Insurance Group Corporation Limited have announced today that they are collaborating to design and develop a Diabetes Center of Excellence in Weifang, Shandong Province, China. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Joslin is the world's leading diabetes research, clinical care and education organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes. Joslin is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Sunshine, founded in 2005, is one of China’s largest insurance companies, providing property, and casualty and life insurance service nationwide, the company is now actively getting into healthcare industry.
Medimmune and Joslin Diabetes Center Announce New Research Collaboration Focused on Advancing Metabolic Disease Research: Gaithersburg, MD and Boston, MA – (March 10, 2015) - MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, and Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research and clinical care organization, today announced a three-year research collaboration to develop new medicines for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and related metabolic disorders.
Joslin and Johnson & Johnson Announce New Partnership to Improve Diabetes Management in China Hospitals: BOSTON – (March 5, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that they have entered into a partnership with Johnson and Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (hereafter, JJMS) to improve glycemic control for people with diabetes who are hospitalized in Chinese hospitals. The aim of this alliance is to utilize Joslin’s expertise in diabetes management to elevate the quality of diabetes care in China.
Joslin Diabetes Center Named an Official Charity Partner of the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon Set for Sunday, November 1, 2015: Boston/ New York – (March 3, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that they have been selected to become an Official Charity Partner of the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon. The race will take place on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
Joslin Scientists Find Direct Link between Insulin Resistance in the Brain and Behavioral Disorders: BOSTON – (March 2, 2015) – People with diabetes are more prone to anxiety and depression than those with other chronic diseases that require similar levels of management. The reasons for this aren’t well understood, but Joslin Diabetes Center researchers have discovered one potential explanation.
Joslin Researchers Conduct First Trial Directly Comparing Drugs for Diabetic Macular Edema and Find All are Effective : BOSTON – (February 19, 2015) – In the first clinical trial directly comparing three drugs most commonly used to treat diabetic macular edema, researchers found all were effective in improving vision and preventing vision loss. However, one drug, aflibercept, provided greater improvement for people with more severe vision loss when treatment was initiated. The trial was conducted by the National Eye Institute Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net) including researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center. The results appeared in the February online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists use MRI to visualize pancreas inflammation: BOSTON – (February 17, 2015) – A pilot study led by researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center has revealed that it is possible to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to "see" the inflammation in the pancreas that leads to type 1 diabetes. This discovery could be a boon for research on methods to slow or halt the disease at an early stage, and could also guide insights into how diabetes progresses.
Insulet Corporation Joins the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) As a Founding Member: BOSTON – (February 3, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD), has joined the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) as a Founding Member.
Joslin Diabetes Center Earns NCQA’s Highest Level of National Recognition for Quality Care: BOSTON — (January 8, 2015) – Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that the Joslin Clinic has received level-three recognition, the highest level of recognition, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) for its responsiveness to patients and medical colleagues, cooperation and integration with other health care groups, and dedication to continuous improvement.
Drug Turns on Brown Fat and Burns Calories in People: BOSTON – (January 6, 2015) – In an early phase clinical trial led by Joslin Diabetes Center researchers, an oral drug approved for treating incontinence successfully activated brown fat – a form of fat that can help to expend energy. At peak effect, the drug boosted energy consumption by more than a tenth in the trial volunteers, suggesting that it might help in losing weight.

2014

Diabetic Eye Disease Treatment Discovered: BOSTON – (September 10, 2014) – George King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President of Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Lloyd Paul Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Beetham Eye Institute (BEI) and Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, were among seven individuals, including colleagues from Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Genentech and UC San Diego, to receive the 2014 Antonio Champalimaud Vision Award for their contributions toward the discovery of treatments inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for ocular diseases. Drs. King and Aiello performed pivotal work in this area regarding the retinal diseases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
New Position Statement from Joslin Encourages the ADA to lower BMI Guidelines for Screening Asian American for Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – (December 23, 2014) –The American Diabetes Association announced today that they are lowering the Body Mass Index (BMI) cut point for which they recommend screening Asian Americans for type 2 diabetes. These new guidelines derives from a position statement that will be published in the January issue of Diabetes Care, showing that many Asian Americans develop type 2 diabetes at lower BMI levels than the population at large.
Joslin Discovery May Hold Clues to Treatments that Slow Aging and Prevent Age-Related Chronic Disease: BOSTON – December 15, 2014 – In a study published today by Nature, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center used a microscopic worm (C. elegans) to identify a new path that could lead to drugs to slow aging and the chronic diseases that often accompany it—and might even lead to better cosmetics.
Scientists Raise Alarm that Shortage of Human Islet Cells Will Slow Diabetes Research: BOSTON – (November 20, 2014) – Rohit Kulkarni, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, coauthored a paper that was published today in Diabetes, which voiced concerns about the increasing difficulty of access to high quality islet cells for diabetes research. Andrew Stewart, M.D., Director of the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Institute at of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, served as the other lead author.
Dr. Robert G. Spiro, M.D., Receives Lifetime Achievement Award: BOSTON — (November 12, 2014)— Dr. Robert G. Spiro has been awarded the Joslin Diabetes Center Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the fight against diabetes. This award goes to people who have had profound influence on the Joslin Diabetes Center in its ongoing efforts in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Vicki J. Brown Joins Joslin Diabetes Center As Chief Marketing Officer: BOSTON – (November 6, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced that Vicki J. Brown has joined its executive team as Chief Marketing Officer to provide strategic leadership and proactive management for all marketing activities across Joslin’s patient care and research organizations.
Joslin Scientists Discover a New Step In A Molecular Pathway Responsible For Neural Tube Defects, A Birth Defect That Is Increased In Diabetic Pregnancies : BOSTON – (November 6, 2014) – Mary R. Loeken, Ph.D., Investigator in the Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has discovered a molecular pathway responsible for neural tube defects in diabetic pregnancies. Her latest research findings in this pathway were published in the October issue of Diabetes.
Edward Horton, M.D. Receives JK Lilly Award for Outstanding Service: BOSTON – (November 4, 2014) – Edward Horton, M.D., Senior Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, was presented with the 2014 Josiah Kirby Lilly Award for outstanding service to all those affected by diabetes on Saturday, November 1 by the American Diabetes Association.
Sethu K. Reddy, M.D., MBA, FRCPC, FACP, MACE, Joins Joslin Diabetes Center as Chief of the Adult Diabetes Section: BOSTON – (November 3, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center has appointed S. Sethu K. Reddy, M.D., MBA, FRCPC, FACP, MACE, as the new Chief of the Adult Diabetes Section. Dr. Reddy is a well-known clinician-scientist with significant leadership experience in academia and pharmaceutical industry. He possesses an extensive knowledge into the global healthcare landscape with the proven ability to lead diverse teams in a variety of organizations.
Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Solutions Companies Join The Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) As Founding Members: BOSTON, October 30, 2014 – The Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) today announced that three Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Solutions Companies, LifeScan, Inc., Animas Corporation and Calibra Medical, Inc., have joined JITT as Founding Members and as members of JITT’s Advisory Board. JITT, a recently introduced innovation group of Joslin Diabetes Center, is focused on leveraging the potential of technology with the introduction of clinical solutions, decision support tools and the advancement of digital health to improve the lives of people with diabetes.
Dr. Lori Laffel, Chief of Pediatrics at Joslin Diabetes Center, Named Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School: BOSTON – (October 7, 2014) – Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of Joslin’s clinical programs for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults, and Senior Investigator in the Section on Genetics and Epidemiology, has been promoted by Harvard Medical School to Professor of Pediatrics.
Joslin Diabetes Center Announces Two New Senior Executives: BOSTON (October 6, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced the addition of two new senior executives to its management team: Eliot M. Lurier, Chief Financial Officer, and Alicia Peters-Torrey, Chief Information Officer.
In Joslin Trial, Asian Americans Lower Insulin Resistance on Traditional Diet: BOSTON – September 17, 2014 – Why are Asian Americans at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than Caucasian Americans, and prone to develop the disease at lower body weights? One part of this puzzle may lie in the transition from traditional high-fiber, low-fat Asian diets to current westernized diets, which may pose extra risks for those of Asian heritage, says George King, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and the senior author of the study.
Research Evidence Affirms that Good Nutrition Can Help Prevent and Control Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – August 28, 2014 – In a comprehensive review of recent randomized clinical trials and observational studies of diabetes and nutrition, Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard School of Public Health investigators have identified specific foods and dietary patterns that are beneficial in preventing and controlling diabetes. The findings were published June 7, 2014 in Lancet.
Joslin Supports Senators Collins and Shaheen’s New Legislation to Extend Medicare Coverage for CGMs: Boston – August 25, 2014 – In a letter to United States Senators Susan Collins (R-Me) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John L. Brooks III, President and CEO of Joslin Diabetes Center, expressed Joslin’s strong support for legislation sponsored by the two senators that would extend Medicare coverage to include continuous glucose monitors (CGM).
Joslin Scientists Create the First iPS Cells to Offer Human Model of Insulin Resistance: BOSTON – July 24, 2014 –Japanese biologist Shinya Yamanaka won a Nobel Prize in 2012 for discovering how to create “induced pluripotent stem cells” (iPSCs), cells derived from normal adult cells that have the ability to differentiate into almost any other kind of cells. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have created the first iPSCs that offer a human model of insulin resistance, a key driver of type 2 diabetes.
ADA Type 1 Diabetes Position Statement Changes A1C Recommendations for Pediatric Patients: BOSTON – (July 18, 2014) – The American Diabetes Association released a position statement outlining care protocols for persons with type 1 diabetes. The guidelines were officially released at the 2014 ADA Annual Conference in San Francisco this past June. The position statement covers care recommendations for all age ranges, from early childhood to adulthood and into the geriatric years.
Edward Horton, M.D. Receives the Master of the American College of Endocrinology (MACE) Award : BOSTON – (July 14, 2014) – Edward Horton, M.D., Senior Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, received the Master of the American College of Endocrinology (MACE) Award at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 23rd Annual Scientific & Clinical Congress in Las Vegas this past May.
Inherited ‘Memory’ of Environmental Impact on Health May Be Limited: BOSTON – (July 10, 2014) – When a pregnant mother is undernourished, her child is at a greater than average risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, in part due to so-called ‘epigenetic’ effects. A new study in mice demonstrates that this ‘memory’ of nutrition during pregnancy can be passed through sperm of male offspring to the next generation, increasing risk of disease for her grandchildren as well. In other words, to adapt an old maxim, ‘you are what your grandmother ate’. The study has also raised questions over how epigenetic effects are passed down from one generation to the next – and for how long they will continue to have an impact.
Diabetes Research News: BOSTON – July 1, 2014 – Building upon their earlier research on the biology of fat metabolism, Joslin scientists discovered that microRNAs –small RNA molecules that play important roles in regulation in many types of tissue – play a major role in the distribution and determination of fat cells and whole body metabolism. Also, the study is the first to reveal that microRNAs (miRNAs) influence the development of lipodystrophy (abnormal fat accumulation) which affects many people with HIV receiving anti-retroviral therapy. The findings appear in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Joslin Diabetes Center and Carlos Slim Health Institute Announce Collaboration to Develop Online Educational Materials for General Practitioners in Mexico: BOSTON – (June 16, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center and Carlos Slim Health Institute (CSHI) announced they have created a partnership to develop a series of online “virtual” case based interactive educational materials for primary care physicians in Mexico. The educational materials will cover topics such as, prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as its complications and co-morbidities.
Joslin and Steno Establish Partnership to Improve Clinical Outcomes and to Strengthen Education in Developing Countries: BOSTON (June 13, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center and Steno Diabetes Center today announced a long-term partnership to improve clinical outcomes in diabetes care. The partnership was announced at the American Diabetes Association’s 74th Scientific sessions in San Francisco and builds on a long tradition of knowledge sharing and collaboration within diabetes care and research. “I am very happy to announce this partnership which builds on the historic relations between these two pioneering institutions”, says CEO and Head of Steno Diabetes Center, John Nolan. “It’s an important step to improve patient care and to disseminate knowledge and best practice within developing countries.”
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. Joins The Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) As Founding Member: BOSTON (June 12, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced that Tandem Diabetes Care®, Inc., a medical device company that designs and manufactures products for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, has joined the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (the “Institute” or JITT) as a Founding Member and is a member of its Advisory Board. A new department of Joslin Diabetes Center, the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation is focused on leveraging the potential of technology with the introduction of clinical solutions and digital health to improve the lives of people with diabetes.
Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) and Glooko, Introduce Hypoglycemia Awareness Product Designed to Improve Hypoglycemia Self-Management for People with Diabetes: (Boston, Massachusetts and Palo Alto, California) June 11, 2014 - Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) at Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent institution in diabetes research and clinical care, and Glooko Inc., a mobile, cloud based diabetes management system announced the release of their jointly developed Joslin HypoMap™ powered by Glooko™. Joslin HypoMap, powered by Glooko, is designed to improve health outcomes and reduce costs for use by patients and providers to improve self-management of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose events) as part of their diabetes management program. The Joslin HypoMap will be launched at the American Diabetes Association’s 74th Scientific Sessions, occurring June 13-17, 2014 in San Francisco. Visit us at booth #2149-Joslin Diabetes Center or #2241-Glooko.
Joslin Diabetes Center Introduces Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) : BOSTON (June 10, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced the introduction of the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (the “Institute” or JITT), a new division of Joslin Diabetes Center that formalizes the delivery of Joslin’s clinical solutions to medical device and technology companies. In addition, it was announced that Dexcom, Inc., a San Diego-based maker of continuous glucose monitoring systems for patients and blood glucose monitoring systems for healthcare providers in hospital settings, has joined to become the first Founding Member of the JITT and is a member of the Institute’s Advisory Board.
Joslin Scientists Show that Improved Blood Glucose Control Slows Progression to End-Stage Renal Disease in Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – June 5, 2014 - People with type 1 diabetes who have developed kidney complications can slow the progression of their complications by improving control of their glycemic (blood glucose) levels over the long term.
Aaron M. Cypess, M.D., Ph.D., MMSc, Awarded the 2014 Armen H. Tashjian Jr. Award for Excellence in Endocrine Research: BOSTON – (May 15, 2014) – Aaron M. Cypess, M.D., Ph.D., MMSc, Assistant Investigator in the Section on Integrative Physiology & Metabolism, Staff Physician at Joslin Diabetes Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has received the 2014 Armen H. Tashjian Jr. Award for Excellence in Endocrine Research.
Dr. Lori Laffel and Dr. Howard Wolpert to be Honored at JDRF Boston Gala: BOSTON – (May 13, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that Lori Laffel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section at Joslin and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and Howard Wolpert, M.D., Director of the Joslin Institute for Technology Translation (JITT) and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will be honored as Research Champions at the JDRF’s upcoming Boston Gala. They will receive the Nancy Jones Diabetes Champion Award for Research at the 32nd Annual Boston Gala on May 17, 2014 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
Joslin Research Recognized for Outstanding Achievements with Three Awards at the ADA’s Scientific Sessions : BOSTON – (May 6, 2014) – Three researchers from Joslin Diabetes Center will be presented with awards at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 74th Scientific Sessions. They are Edward Horton, M.D., Andrzej Krolewski, M.D., Ph.D. and Katie Weinger, Ed.D., R.N., Ph.D.
Joslin Medalists Maintain High Levels of Cells Involved in Blood-Vessel Repair: BOSTON – April 29, 2014 – Decades after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, some Joslin 50-Year Medalists, who have lived 50 or more years with the disease, maintain certain types of blood cells that could help to repair blood vessels. The persistence of these endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) may help to explain why these patients generally suffer less from cardiovascular and diabetic kidney disease than expected for those who have the disease for many years.
Fresenius Medical Care and Joslin Diabetes Center Partner to Improve Health of Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease: WALTHAM and BOSTON — (APRIL 15, 2014) — Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS), North America’s leading provider of kidney care services, and Joslin Diabetes Center, Inc., the world's preeminent diabetes research, clinical care and education organization, announced an agreement today to jointly develop renal care programs in select Joslin Affiliated Centers for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
Governor Patrick Joins Joslin Diabetes Center and the MLSC in Officially Opening Translational Center for the Cure of Diabetes: BOSTON, April 8, 2014 — Today, Joslin Diabetes Center opened its new Translational Center for the Cure of Diabetes at its campus in the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. Governor Deval L. Patrick cut the ceremonial ribbon, along with Joslin President & CEO, John Brooks and the President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D. In January 2012, Joslin, the world leader in diabetes research and care, received a $5 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), among the highest amounts ever received to support diabetes research in Massachusetts. The grant was matched with $5.8 million in funds raised from generous Joslin donors, and a total of $10.8 million was used to build the comprehensive center.
Joslin Diabetes Center Renews Alliance with Sunstar, Inc., a Leading Company in Oral Health Care : Etoy/ Boston – (April 7, 2014) – Sunstar Inc., a Switzerland-based, leading company in oral health care and one of the first businesses to emphasize an integrated approach to the relationship between oral health and systemic disease, and Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research and clinical care organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes, have renewed their commitment to the Joslin Sunstar Diabetes Education Initiative (JSDEI).
TVM Capital Healthcare Partners Announces Alliance with Joslin Diabetes Center, World Leading Diabetes Organization: Dubai/ Boston - (March 17, 2014) - TVM Capital Healthcare Partners, the region’s first private equity firm dedicated exclusively to the healthcare sector, has signed an affiliation with Joslin Diabetes Center. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Joslin is the world's leading diabetes research, clinical care and education organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes. Joslin is an independent, non-profit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
Beetham Eye Institute at Joslin Diabetes Center Cited for Outstanding Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy: BOSTON – (March 12, 2014) – The Beetham Eye Institute (BEI) at Joslin Diabetes Center has been recognized as one of the top institutions worldwide for research and treatment of diabetic retinopathy by Expertscape. In addition, Lloyd P. Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the BEI and Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School has been recognized as one of the top three specialists in diabetic retinopathy worldwide.
Asian American Diabetes Initiative at Joslin Diabetes Center Awarded $70,000 Grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation: BOSTON – (February 4, 2014) – The Asian American Diabetes Initiative (AADI) at Joslin Diabetes Center has received a $70,089 grant from Tufts Health Plan Foundation to fund Healthy Living for All Seasons, which offers elderly Asians with, or at risk for, diabetes the opportunity to take part in educational workshops and seminars focusing on exercise, improved diet, and the prevention of diabetes complications.
New Study Shows Three Core Factors and Thirteen Strategies to Turn Primary Care Practices into Viable Patient Centered Medical Homes: BOSTON – (February 4, 2014) – A new study conducted by Robert A. Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, Senior Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues identified three core factors and thirteen strategies that increase the probability of getting buy-in from the practice teams within a medical practice to becoming a fully-functioning patient-centered medical home (PCMH). This study was published in the January/ February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Study Demonstrates Care Managers in Patient-Centered Medical Homes Increase Improvements in Diabetes Patient Outcomes : BOSTON – January 21, 2013 – Patient centered medical homes (PCMHs) have been found to be an effective way to help care for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Dr. Robert Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, and his team conducted a study that shows the strategic placement of care managers in PCMHs can further improve patient outcomes for high-risk diabetes patients.
Joslin Diabetes Center Teams with Glooko on Next Generation Diabetes Management Solution: Palo Alto, California. & Boston, Massachusetts – January 21, 2014 – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s pre-eminent institution in diabetes research and clinical care, and Glooko Inc. have signed an agreement to jointly deploy an advanced diabetes management technology platform that will allow patients to share diabetes management data and in turn use that data through decision-making algorithms for optimal and predictive diabetes care. Glooko and Joslin will jointly provide a diabetes management solution globally to health systems, governments and payer groups aiming to improve health outcomes and lower costs.
Joslin Finds Metabolic Clues to Diabetic Kidney Failure: BOSTON – January 15, 2013 – About 33 percent of people with type 2 diabetes suffer kidney damage that progresses to end stage renal disease (ESRD), at which point they require either dialysis or kidney transplantation. Scientists have thought that this kidney disease is driven by damage to the glomeruli, blood vessels in the kidney, which spill the protein albumin into the urine. Current treatments targeting the resulting “albuminuria” do not prevent kidney failure.
Five New Members Elected to Joslin Diabetes Center Board of Trustees: BOSTON (January 14, 2014) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced that five new members have been elected to its Board of Trustees:
Joslin Researchers Determine Hormone Linked to Improved Glucose Metabolism Activates Browning of Fat: BOSTON – (January 9, 2013) – Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that a hormone long associated with weight loss and improved glucose metabolism is linked to activation of calorie-burning brown fat. This finding could have implications for production of new medications for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The results are published in the January issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation in a paper titled “Interplay between FGF21 and Insulin Action in the Liver for the Regulation of Metabolism.”

2013

Joslin Diabetes Center launches pilot of JCAT™ quality analysis tool at Truman Medical Centers: BOSTON – April 1, 2013 – Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has launched a pilot program in conjunction with Truman Medical Centers, the primary teaching hospital for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Schools of Medicine to test the capabilities of a novel and innovative care analytics tool called the Joslin Clinical Analytical Tool (JCAT™).
Joslin Supports FDA Ban on Artificially-Made Trans Fats: BOSTON – (November 25, 2013) – On Nov. 7, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put one of the final nails in the coffin of artificially-made trans fats with its decision to ban them from our nation’s food supply. The Joslin applauds the FDA’s decision and supports efforts to move this initiative forward as quickly as possible.
Joslin and WorldOne Launch Diabetes HUB on Sermo: BOSTON – (November 20, 2013) – WorldOne and Joslin Diabetes Center announced that they have launched the Diabetes HUB, an online clinical and educational resource. The HUB is housed on Sermo and will allow for close collaboration and information sharing between diabetes experts and primary care physicians (PCP).
Joslin Researchers Find Markers That May Increase Risk of Cognitive Decline in Middle-Aged People with Type 2 Diabetes: Boston - (November 7, 2013) - Joslin researchers have discovered that middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for developing white matter abnormalities in the brain, which may raise risk for dementia or other cognitive disorders. The study will be published today online and in the upcoming print edition of Diabetes.
National Diabetes Coalition Urges Caution on New Population Survey: Boston – October 18, 2013 – Today, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) with additional data briefs on hypertension, cholesterol and obesity among adults in the U.S. by age, gender, race and ethnicity. This detailed national survey of health characteristics, for the first time, includes important health status and information on Asian Americans (AA). We applaud the CDC for including Asian Americans, who are the fastest growing minority in this country. However, the conclusion of the analysis suggests that the AA population has a significantly lower rate of obesity among the various ethnic groups, implying that the AA population will also have fewer health problems associated with obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
Joslin Boosts Insight into Role of Brain Stress in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Development: BOSTON – October 1, 2013 – Joslin researchers have gained new insights into how obesity and type 2 diabetes can create a stress response in the brain, especially in the hypothalamus (the brain region that regulates appetite and energy production), that may contribute to altering metabolism throughout the body. The findings are reported in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Joslin Identifies Immune Cells That Promote Growth of Beta Cells in Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – (September 27, 2013) – Joslin researchers have identified immune cells that promote growth of beta cells in type 1 diabetes. This study provides further evidence of a changed role for immune cells in type 1 diabetes pathology. The study will be published online today and will appear in the January issue of Diabetes.
Joslin Receives $24.3 Million Grant from the NIH for Diabetic Kidney Disease Study: BOSTON – (September 26, 2013) The National Institutes of Health awarded Joslin Diabetes Center $24.3 million to fund a clinical trial to study a potential treatment for kidney disease in people with type 1 diabetes. Alessandro Doria, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., an Investigator in the Section on Genetics and Epidemiology, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, will lead the trial together with his co- Principal Investigator, Michael Mauer, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Peng Yi, Ph.D., Joins Joslin Diabetes Center’s Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology Section: BOSTON (September 26, 2013) – Joslin Diabetes Center today announced that Peng Yi, Ph.D., has been appointed an Assistant Investigator in the Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology Section of Joslin’s Research Division. Yi joins a leading team of researchers focused on improving diabetes treatment and finding a cure.
Joslin Diabetes Center and Clinton Foundation join for Diabetes Innovation and year round support for healthier communities : BOSTON (September 18, 2013) – Harvard Medical School-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest provider of diabetes focused clinical care, research and education and the producer of Diabetes Innovation 2013, has joined the Clinton Foundation to boost efforts to prevent diabetes and to improve treatment quality and reduce costs for those with the disease and its related conditions and complications.
C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Chief Academic Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, Awarded the Helmholtz Diabetes Award : BOSTON – (September 17, 2013) – The First Helmholtz Diabetes Lecture Award will be presented to C. Ronald Kahn, M.D. at the upcoming Helmholtz-Nature Medicine Diabetes Conference. Dr Kahn is a resident of Newton, MA, and Chief Academic Officer of Joslin Diabetes Center. He will receive this honor at the conference on September 22 - 24, 2013 in Munich, Germany.
Joslin Diabetes Center Announces Collaboration with Good Measures: BOSTON – (September 6, 2013) – Good Measures and Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that they have reached an agreement, aimed at incorporating Joslin’s nutritional guidelines, meal plans, exercise recommendations and other relevant resources into Good Measures’ product and service offerings.
Genetic Variant Associated with Coronary Heart Disease in T2D: BOSTON -- August 29, 2013 -- Joslin scientists, in collaboration with researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and Italian research institutes, have identified a previously unknown genetic variant associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in type 2 diabetic patients. This discovery has the potential to lead to the development of new treatments for CHD in diabetic patients. The findings appear in the [month] issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Joslin Diabetes Center Honors C. Ronald Kahn, M.D. at 2013 International Symposium: BOSTON – (August, 19 2013) – Joslin Diabetes Center, a global leader in diabetes research, care and education, will honor C. Ronald Kahn, M.D. at the 2013 International Symposium on Diabetes: New Discoveries on the Roles of Environment and Genetics in Insulin Action, which takes place on October 31, 2013 through November 2, 2013 at the Boston Seaport Hotel.
C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., Receives Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship Award: BOSTON – July 24, 2013 – The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) will present C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., of Newton, MA, with the Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship Award at its 2013 Annual Meeting and Clinical Exposition in Houston, Texas on July 28. The Wallace H. Coulter Lectureship Award goes to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to, and made important contributions that have had a significant impact on education, practice and/or research in laboratory medicine or patient care. Dr. Kahn was selected to receive this award based on his 40 year commitment to the field of diabetes and obesity research, in particular his significant work in insulin signal transduction and the mechanisms of altered insulin signaling in disease.
Joslin Researchers Find Key Mechanism in Increased Atherosclerosis Risk for People with Diabetes: Boston – July 10, 2013 – Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that when excessive PKC beta is found in the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line blood vessels, atherosclerosis is exacerbated. Their findings were published on-line on June 11 by Circulation Research.
Joslin Scientists Find that Salsalate Lowers Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – July 1, 2013 - Joslin scientists report that salsalate, a drug used to treat arthritis, lowers blood glucose and improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. These findings, which appear in the Annals of Internal Medicine, provide additional evidence that salsalate may be an effective drug to treat type 2 diabetes.
Joslin Study Finds Connection Between Erectile Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease in Joslin Medalists : BOSTON – June 26, 2013 – A number of studies have established the connection between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease in men starting in their fourth decade of life. However, a new study at Joslin Diabetes Center that examined the connection between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease in Joslin Medalists – people living with type 1 diabetes for 50 or more years –showed that a history of erectile dysfunction is independently associated with cardiovascular disease. This suggests that sexual dysfunction can predict cardiovascular disease in those with type 1 diabetes for 50 or more years, but who are relatively free of microvascular diseases.
Preliminary Data from Joslin Study Shows Gastric Bypass More Effective Than Lifestyle Modification for People with Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – June 23, 2013 – In a paper presented today at the 73rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Chicago, Joslin researchers report preliminary data suggesting Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery provides greater improvements in blood sugars and weight lost than intensive lifestyle modification at one year for people with type 2 diabetes.
Robert A. Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., Joins Joslin Diabetes Center as Chief Medical Officer: BOSTON - June 24, 2013 - Robert A. Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Joslin Diabetes Center. Joslin Diabetes Center is an independent institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School and the world's largest diabetes clinic, diabetes research center and provider of diabetes education. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy live and to offering real hope and progress toward diabetes prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
New Joslin Study Shows Exercise Creates “Good Fat”: BOSTON – June 21, 2013 – Joslin Diabetes Center scientists have demonstrated through two new studies of mice and humans that exercise can train fat to behave differently than the fat that develops from sedentary behavior, and this “good fat” may stimulate metabolic improvements in other tissues.
Joslin Diabetes Center Presenting More Than 40 Presentations at the 73rd American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions® : Boston, Mass - June 20, 2013 – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research and clinical care organization committed to the improvement of diabetes treatment and the pursuit of a cure, today announced it will present more than 40 oral and poster presentations at the 73rd American Diabetes Association Scientific Session in Chicago June 21-25.
Joslin Scientists Advance Understanding of Human Brown Adipose Tissue and Grow New Cells: BOSTON – April 22, 2013 – Joslin scientists report significant findings about the location, genetic expression and function of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the generation of new BAT cells. These findings, which appear in the April 2013 issue of Nature Medicine, may contribute to further study of BAT’s role in human metabolism and developing treatments that use BAT to promote weight loss.
Joslin Study Reveals That Dietary Fat Can Affect Glucose Levels and Insulin Requirements for People with Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – March 27, 2013 – In a study of patients with type 1 diabetes, Joslin researchers found that dietary fat can affect glucose levels and insulin requirements. These findings, which appeared in the April edition of Diabetes Care, have major implications for the management of type 1 diabetes.
Joslin Scientists Discover Mechanism That Regulates Production of Energy-Burning Brown Fat : BOSTON – March 21, 2013 – Joslin scientists have discovered a mechanism that regulates the production of brown fat, a type of fat which plays an important role in heat production and energy metabolism. The findings, which appear in the upcoming issue of Nature, may lead to new therapies that increase BAT formation to treat obesity.
Susan Bonner-Weir, Ph.D., Named American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow: Boston, MA – February 14, 2013 – Susan Bonner-Weir, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Section on Islet Cell & Regenerative Biology at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Joslin Scientists Generate First Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Patients with Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young: BOSTON – January 31, 2013 – Joslin scientists report the first generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with an uncommon form of diabetes, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY). These cells offer a powerful resource for studying the role of genetic factors in the development of MODY and testing potential treatments. The findings appear in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Joslin Researchers Identify Important Factor in Fat Storage and Energy Metabolism: BOSTON – January 8, 2013 -- As part of their ongoing research on the physiologic factors that contribute to the development of obesity, Joslin Diabetes Center scientists have identified a cell cycle transcriptional co-regulator – TRIP-Br2 – that plays a major role in energy metabolism and fat storage. This finding has the potential to lead to new treatments for obesity. The study is being published today ahead of print by Nature Medicine.

2012

Brown Adipose Tissue Has Beneficial Effects on Metabolism & Glucose Tolerance: BOSTON – December 10, 2012 – Joslin Diabetes Center scientists have demonstrated that brown adipose tissue (BAT) has beneficial effects on glucose tolerance, body weight and metabolism. The findings, which may lead to new treatments for diabetes, appear in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Joslin Researchers Increase Understanding of Genetic Risk Factor for Type 1 Diabetes: BOSTON – November 28, 2012 – As part of their ongoing research on the role of genes in the development of type 1 diabetes, Joslin Diabetes Center scientists, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Würzburg, have demonstrated how a genetic variant associated with type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases influences susceptibility to autoimmunity. The findings appear in the upcoming issue of Diabetes.
NIH Awards $9.5 Million Grant to Joslin Diabetes Center to Support Diabetes Research: BOSTON – October 3, 2012 - Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $9.5 million, multi-year Diabetes Research Center (DRC) grant from the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) of the National Institute of Health (NIH). This marks the 26th year in which Joslin has been awarded the DRC grant.
Joslin Scientists Identify Molecular Process in Fat Cells That Influences Stress and Longevity: BOSTON – September 26, 2012 - As part of their ongoing research investigating the biology of aging, the greatest risk factor for type 2 diabetes and other serious diseases, scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified a new factor -- microRNA processing in fat tissue – which plays a major role in aging and stress resistance. This finding may lead to the development of treatments that increase stress resistance and longevity and improve metabolism. The findings appear in the September 5 online edition of Cell Metabolism.
Joslin Diabetes Center Announces Alliance with Mass Eye and Ear: BOSTON -- September 4, 2012 -- Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Joslin Diabetes Center announced today that they have reached agreement to form a clinical and research alliance, aimed toward providing coordinated high quality care to eye patients throughout greater Boston, especially those with or at-risk for diabetes-related eye disease.
Joslin Scientists Identify Biological Mechanisms That Affect Diabetic Nephropathy: BOSTON -- July 23, 2012 -- Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified biological mechanisms by which glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a gut hormone, protects against kidney disease, and also mechanisms that inhibit its actions in diabetes. The findings, which are reported today online by Diabetes, may lead to the development of new therapeutic agents that harness the actions of GLP-1 to prevent the harmful effects of hyperglycemia on renal endothelial cells.
Joslin Convenes Diabetes Innovation Conference: BOSTON -- July 18, 2012 -- The diabetes epidemic demands a powerful response from leaders in the diabetes community, nationally and globally. To this end, for the first time in its 114 year history, Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School will convene all stakeholders for a groundbreaking, immersive activity over 3 days in September called Diabetes Innovation 2012 (September 23-25, 2012 at the Hyatt Crystal City in Arlington, VA).
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Joslin Diabetes Center Initiate A New Clinical Relationship: BOSTON -- July 2, 2012 -- Joslin Diabetes Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have entered into a collaboration between the two institutions to provide specialty care for people with diabetes, a significant and growing public health issue.
Study: Short-Term Intensive Weight Loss Program Works For Four Years: PHILADELPHIA -- June 12, 2012 -- A study by a team of clinicians and researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston has shown for the first time that patients with diabetes who enrolled in a short-term intensive weight management program were able to lose weight and keep it off on their own for four years. The findings suggest an alternative course to bariatric surgery in the fight against type 2 diabetes.
Joslin researchers find new cause of cardiac damage after heart attack in type 1 diabetes: Boston – June 13, 2012 -- After people with type 1 diabetes have a heart attack, their long-term chance of suffering even more heart damage skyrockets. But the reason has long puzzled scientists. Now researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified the misstep that sparks this runaway chronic damage and a promising way to block it.
Joslin Researchers Find ‘Good Fat’ Activated by Cold, Not Ephedrine: BOSTON -- June 4, 2012 -- Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have shown that while a type of “good” fat found in the body can be activated by cold temperatures, it is not able to be activated by the drug ephedrine.
Joslin Diabetes Center Receives $5 million Grant for Innovative Diabetes Project: BOSTON – May 9, 2012 – Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Mass., has been awarded a $5 million 3-year grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to expand their “On the Road” program for community-based diabetes education, field testing, and risk assessment. Joslin Diabetes Center is the world’s largest diabetes research and care organization and is affiliated with Harvard Medical School.
C. Ronald Kahn, M.D. Receives Honorary Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis: BOSTON – May 9, 2012 – Washington University in St. Louis will bestow a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) on C. Ronald Kahn, MD, of Newton, MA, Chief Academic Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center. He will receive this high honor at the 151st Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2012, along with six other recipients.
Joslin researchers find unique physiology is key to diagnosing and treating diabetes in Asian populations: Boston — May 7, 2012 — As the diabetes epidemic spreads worldwide, there is growing concern for Asian American populations, who are nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Compounding the problem, many of the standard ways to detect diabetes fail in people of Asian descent.
Joslin Scientists Identify Important Mechanism That Affects the Aging Process: BOSTON – May 1, 2012 – Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified a key mechanism of action for the TOR (target of rapamycin) protein kinase, a critical regulator of cell growth which plays a major role in illness and aging. This finding not only illuminates the physiology of aging but could lead to new treatments to increase lifespan and control age-related conditions, such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegeneration.
George King, MD, Receives Harold Amos Diversity Award from Harvard Medical School: BOSTON – April 25, 2012 – George King, MD, has been awarded the 2012 Harold Amos Diversity Award by Harvard Medical School.
Joslin Partners with Ember Therapeutics to Develop Drug Treatment Approaches from “Brown Fat” Findings: BOSTON — March 28, 2012 — Joslin Diabetes Center and Ember Therapeutics, Inc. today announced an agreement aimed at utilizing “brown fat,” a type of fat that helps increase energy expenditure within the body, as a novel technique for managing obesity and diabetes. Joslin’s Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Ronald Kahn and other Joslin faculty, Drs. Yu-Hua Tseng and Aaron Cypess, have performed pioneering work in this field over the past several years, and were the first to show that a natural protein called BMP7 can help modulate the levels of brown fat.
Joslin Study Finds Excess Insulin Levels an Unlikely Cause of Atherosclerosis: Boston – March 22, 2012 – A number of studies have shown that excess insulin circulating in the bloodstream is a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, a new study from Joslin Diabetes Center finds that this condition, called hyperinsulinemia, is itself not a cause of atherosclerosis.
Sanjeev Mehta MD MPH is Director of Quality at Joslin Diabetes Center: BOSTON – March 12, 2012 – Sanjeev Mehta, MD, MPH, has been appointed Director of Quality at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Joslin is the largest diabetes research and clinical care institution in the world and an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School.
Rick Markello Appointed Chief Operating Officer: BOSTON – March 1, 2012 – Rick Markello, of Worcester, Massachusetts, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Joslin is the largest diabetes research and clinical care center in the world and is a teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School.
C. Ronald Kahn, M. D., Appointed Chief Academic Officer: BOSTON – January 30, 2012 – C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., of Newton, Massachusetts, has been appointed Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s largest diabetes clinical care and research organization and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Joslin Diabetes Center Awarded $5 Million from Massachusetts Life Sciences Center: BOSTON — January 25, 2012 — Joslin Diabetes Center has received a $5 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The grant, which was announced today, is among the highest amounts ever received to support diabetes research in Massachusetts.
Joslin Study Identifies Novel Markers as Key Indicators of Future Renal Failure in Diabetes: Boston, MA —January 19, 2012 —Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified two novel markers that, when elevated in the blood stream, can predict accurately the risk of renal (kidney) failure in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The findings have immediate diagnostic implications and can be used for the development of new therapies to prevent or postpone the progression of renal disease in diabetes.
Joslin Champions Diabetes Prevention: BOSTON (MA) — January 12, 2012 — In a statement released today by Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, physicians at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated research and clinical care center strongly disagreed with comments made recently by Richard Kahn, M.D., a former executive of the American Diabetes Association.
Study Finds Age-related Effects in MS may be Reversible: BOSTON – January 6, 2012 – Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard University, and the University of Cambridge have found that the age-related impairment of the body’s ability to replace protective myelin sheaths, which normally surround nerve fibers and allow them to send signals properly, may be reversible, offering new hope that therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring efficient regeneration can be effective in the central nervous system throughout life.

2011

Joslin Researchers Uncover Mechanism That Arrests Cell Death Protein During Embryonic Development: BOSTON, MA – December 28, 2011 - In a study published today in PLoS ONE, a team from Joslin Diabetes Center, headed by Mary R. Loeken, Ph. D., made a significant advance toward understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the elevated risk of birth defects among babies born to mothers with diabetes. They uncovered the mechanism by which Pax3, a protein whose production is reduced in embryos of diabetic mothers, functions and stops the activity of the cell-death protein p53.
Joslin Study Identifies the Cause of Diabetes Misdiagnosis among Asian Americans: BOSTON, MA – December 2, 2011 - Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have determined key differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the Asian American population. This study, published today in PLoS ONE, identified ways to differentiate the types of diabetes, which can be clinically similar in young Asian Americans.
Joslin Diabetes Center Awarded Full Funding for Research in CME Outcomes Methods: BOSTON - November 28, 2011 - Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has launched a landmark research initiative to establish accuracy and predictive value of current assessment methodologies for CME (Certified Continuing Medical Education) in order to inform ongoing efforts to improve diabetes care.
Unlocking the Genetic and Molecular Mystery of Soft-tissue Sarcoma: BOSTON - November 30, 2011 - Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston have uncovered important molecular and genetic keys to the development of soft-tissue sarcomas in skeletal muscle, giving researchers and clinicians additional targets to stop the growth of these often deadly tumors.
Joslin search for protective factors against diabetic retinopathy and kidney disease gets boost from NIDDK/NIH: BOSTON — October 27, 2011 — Joslin Diabetes Center has received a $3.9 million DP3 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to identify protective factors that enable many Joslin 50-Year Medalists to remain free of commonly occurring diabetes complications.
Joslin Study Finds Clue to Birth Defects in Babies of Mothers with Diabetes: BOSTON – October 17, 2011 — In a paper published today in Diabetologia, a team at Joslin Diabetes Center, headed by Mary R. Loeken, PhD, has identified the enzyme AMP kinase (AMPK) as key to the molecular mechanism that significantly increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and some heart defects among babies born to women with diabetes.
Joslin Researchers Identify Pathways Leading to Activation of ‘Good’ Fat: BOSTON – September 20, 2011 – Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have identified for the first time two molecular pathways that are critical to activating a type of “good” fat found in the body, a discovery that could play an important role in the fight against obesity and diabetes.
Medical School Dean Elected to Board of Joslin Diabetes Center: Peter S. Amenta, MD, PhD, dean of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Joslin Diabetes Center for a three-year term. The center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, is the world's largest diabetes clinic, diabetes research center and provider of diabetes education. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and to offering real hope and progress toward diabetes prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
Joslin Researchers Identify New Target for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes: BOSTON -- Aug. 22, 2011 -- Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have shown that an enzyme found in the mitochondria of cells is decreased in the skeletal muscle of those with type 2 diabetes, a finding that could lead to the development of drugs to boost the activity of this enzyme in an effort to fight the disease.
“Good Fat” Most Prevalent in Thin Children: BOSTON (August 11, 2011) – Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center and Children’s Hospital Boston have shown that a type of “good” fat known as brown fat occurs in varying amounts in children – increasing until puberty and then declining -- and is most active in leaner children.
Joslin Diabetes Center Hosts Policy Summit on Diabetes Prevention and Launches New Diabetes Prevention Initiative: WASHINGTON (July 14, 2011) – Joslin Diabetes Center convened a national summit to explore methods to effectively prevent type 2 diabetes based on research results from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a landmark, NIH-funded trial with economic and patient outcomes that have the potential to fundamentally transform care of patients at risk for diabetes.
New Link Found Between Obesity and Insulin Resistance: BOSTON – 2 August, 2011 – Obesity is the main culprit in the worldwide avalanche of type 2 diabetes. But how excess weight drives insulin resistance, the condition that may lead to the disease, is only partly understood. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have uncovered a new way in which obesity wreaks its havoc, by altering the production of proteins that affect how other proteins are spliced together. Their finding, published in Cell Metabolism, may point toward novel targets for diabetes drugs.
Dietary Leucine May Fight Prediabetes, Metabolic Syndrome: BOSTON -- June 22, 2011 -- A study led by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center suggests that adding the amino acid leucine to their diets may help those with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Tale of Two Mice Pinpoints Major Factor for Insulin Resistance: BOSTON – May 16, 2011 – The road to type 2 diabetes is paved with insulin resistance, a condition often associated with obesity in which the hormone begins to fail at its job helping to convert sugars to energy. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have now identified an enzyme called PKC-delta as an important molecular modifier for development of insulin resistance, diabetes and fatty liver in mice. They also have found evidence suggesting a similar role for the enzyme in humans, making PKC-delta a promising new target for drugs for diabetes and related ailments.
Joslin Diabetes Center Names John Brooks as President and Chief Executive: BOSTON - March 31, 2011 - Joslin Diabetes Center has appointed John L. Brooks III, a well-known leader in the life sciences industry, as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Trigger Found for Autoimmune Heart Attacks: BOSTON – March 23, 2011 – People with type 1 diabetes, whose insulin-producing cells have been destroyed by the body’s own immune system, are particularly vulnerable to a form of inflammatory heart disease (myocarditis) caused by a different autoimmune reaction. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have revealed the exact target of this other onslaught, taking a large step toward potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools for the heart condition.
RETAIN Trial for Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes Enrolls Patients: BOSTON and SEATTLE – March 2, 2011 – The Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) has enrolled the first participant in a two-part, phase II clinical research trial evaluating the effect of intravenous alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) on preserving the function of insulin-producing cells in patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. ARALAST NP is one marketed formulation of AAT. The Research Trial of ARALAST NP in New-onset Type 1 Diabetes (RETAIN) is seeking 82 eligible participants at 15 clinical research centers across the U.S. The first participant was enrolled at Emory University/Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.
Joslin Launches Initiative to Resolve the Critical Link Connecting CME to Sustained Quality Improvement: BOSTON – March 2, 2011 – Joslin Diabetes Center has launched a groundbreaking initiative for primary care physicians to improve diabetes care. Joslin, with technology from Forward Health Group, Inc., is providing qualifying primary care practices in the United States with the critical capability to extract usefulness out of existing clinical data at the individual patient level, and to combine this information with practice improvement support and education. The initiative is supported via independent continuing medical education (CME) grant funding provided by GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co.
People at Risk of Diabetes Offer Clues Toward Novel Drugs: BOSTON – February 14, 2011 – Once people develop type 2 diabetes, high blood glucose levels alter their metabolism so much that it becomes difficult to sift through all the clues to find what might enable the disease. “To identify factors that play a primary role in disease susceptibility, we want to investigate people before they get to that point,” says Mary-Elizabeth Patti, M.D. of Joslin Diabetes Center. By examining people across the spectrum of diabetes—from healthy to the full-blown disease—scientists in her lab have found a molecular pathway that offers novel targets for drugs.
Joslin’s Latino Diabetes Initiative Unveils Enhanced Website: BOSTON – February 14, 2011 – Latinos are twice as likely to develop diabetes as Caucasians, and half the Latinos born in the United States in this century are expected to get the disease. Helping to meet this challenge, Joslin Diabetes Center’s Latino Diabetes Initiative—a comprehensive effort that combines clinical care, patient education, community outreach, research and healthcare team education—has upgraded its website with additional resources for Latinos with diabetes and their families in both English and Spanish.
Culprit Found for Increased Stroke Injury with Diabetes: BOSTON – January 23, 2011 – Strokes that involve intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) are especially deadly, and there are no effective treatments to control such bleeding. Moreover, diabetes and hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) are associated with increases in bleeding during hemorrhagic stroke and worse clinical outcomes. But Joslin Diabetes Center researchers now have identified one key player that contributes to this increased bleeding, a discovery that may pave the way toward treatments that minimize adverse stroke outcomes.

2010

Joslin, Kuwait’s Dasman Institute Forge Strategic Alliance: BOSTON – December 21, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center and two other Harvard Medical School affiliates have launched a five-year strategic alliance with the Dasman Diabetes Institute for establishing a comprehensive and innovative program for diabetes care, management and research across Kuwait.
Beatson Foundation Gift Kicks Off Joslin WebCare Project for Managing Diabetes: BOSTON – December 21, 2010 – Under a transformative $3.2 million donation from the Thomas J. Beatson, Jr. Foundation, Joslin Diabetes Center is taking the first major steps in creating Joslin WebCare, an ambitious project to bolster diabetes patient care and education through next-generation web services. The major gift also will underpin initiatives in caring for children with diabetes and for research aimed to guard against eye disease and other diabetes complications.
Study Identifies Cells that Give Rise to Brown Fat: BOSTON – December 20, 2010 – In some adults, the white fat cells that we all stockpile so readily are supplemented by a very different form of fat—brown fat cells, which can offer the neat trick of burning energy rather than storing it. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center, which last year led the way in demonstrating an active role for brown fat in adults, now have identified progenitor cells in mouse white fat tissue and skeletal muscle that can be transformed into brown fat cells.
Joslin, Hallmark Health Sign Affiliation Agreement: BOSTON – Dec. 20, 2010 — In response to the epidemic of diabetes in Massachusetts, Hallmark Health System, the leading provider of vital health services north of Boston, has joined forces with the Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization.
Joslin, AstraZeneca Collaborate to Advance the Study and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: BOSTON – December 7, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center and AstraZeneca today announced they have signed a research collaboration using stem cells to generate novel research tools and methods to facilitate further understanding of the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes May Clamp Down on Brain Cholesterol: BOSTON – November 30, 2010 – The brain contains more cholesterol than any other organ in the body, has to produce its own cholesterol and won’t function normally if it doesn’t churn out enough. Defects in cholesterol metabolism have been linked with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Now researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that diabetes can affect how much cholesterol the brain can make.
Amy Wagers Receives Presidential Early Career Award: BOSTON – November 8, 2010 – Amy Wagers, Ph.D., a Principal Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard Medical School, has been given a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers.
Million-Dollar Gift Boosts Joslin Treatment for Children with Diabetes: BOSTON – November 4, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center has received a $1 million gift that will broaden full access to pediatric clinical services for children with diabetes and their families. Given by the Thomas J. Beatson, Jr. Foundation, the donation will offer major support for the Joslin Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic’s care ambassador program.
Joslin Diabetes Center, SETMA Announce Affiliation: BOSTON – November 1, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization, has announced an affiliation with Southeast Texas Medical Associates (SETMA), LLP, in Beaumont, Texas. The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at SETMA will offer some of the latest advances for treating diabetes and its complications as well as patient education and support services.
Joslin’s Asian American Diabetes Initiative Builds National Clearinghouse for Information: BOSTON, Mass. – September 8, 2010 – The Asian American Diabetes Initiative (AADI) at Joslin Diabetes Center has unveiled exciting additions to its web site, http://aadi.joslin.org, offering innovative, interactive and culturally relevant tools for Asian Americans who live with diabetes and their healthcare providers.
Joslin Physicians Hope to Teach Old Drug New Tricks: BOSTON, Mass. – September 7, 2010 – An anti-inflammatory drug called salsalate, commonly given for arthritis pain, is being tested here to determine whether it can also help prevent cardiac disease. Steven Shoelson, M.D., Ph.D., and Allison Goldfine, M.D., who are affiliated with Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School, are teaming up in translational research efforts taking laboratory observations into clinical study.
Barton Center for Diabetes Education Purchases Camp Joslin: OXFORD, Mass., August 31, 2010 – The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc. and Joslin Diabetes Center announce today that The Barton Center has purchased Camp Joslin, a camp for boys and young men with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. The Barton Center, which operates the nearby Clara Barton Camp for girls and young women with type 1 diabetes, will undertake a capital campaign to pay for improvements to Camp Joslin. The majority of the funds for the purchase came through an unrestricted grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Study of Joslin Medalists Wins Beatson Challenge in Type 1 Diabetes Research: BOSTON – August 12, 2010 – Two years ago, philanthropist Thomas J. Beatson, Jr. asked four Joslin Diabetes Center scientists to present him with compelling proposals for research on type 1 diabetes. Inspired by all four, in January 2009 he decided to help fund each, splitting a $1-million gift evenly between the four labs. An avid cyclist who has cycled more than 100,000 miles, Beatson added a rider to his gift: The first funded researcher to publish a paper with a significant outcome in a peer-reviewed journal would win the Beatson Challenge—and a special yellow cycling jersey. This week Hillary Keenan, Ph.D., a Joslin research associate, and her colleagues grabbed the jersey.
Ultimate Diabetes Survivors, the Joslin 50-Year Medalists, Give Clues to Cures: BOSTON, Mass. – August 11, 2010 – In type 1 diabetes, the body relentlessly attacks and destroys its own insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. But a study by Joslin Diabetes Center scientists now has firmly established that some of these cells endure for many decades in a small group of people with the disease—offering clues to potential treatments for preserving and even restoring the crucial cell population.
Joslin Diabetes Center, Cypress Fairbanks Announce Affiliation: BOSTON, Mass. – August 9, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization, has announced an affiliation with Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital in northwest Houston. The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital will offer some of the latest advances for treating diabetes and its complications as well as patient education and support services.
Joslin Announces Opportunity to Win Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang: BOSTON, Mass. – July 20, 2010 – The Mustang, the car that "changed everything" in the automotive industry, will now contribute to finding a cure for diabetes. Joslin Diabetes Center is raffling off a special edition of the famous "muscle" car – the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang. Only 45 of the limited edition Mustangs were made last year to honor the anniversary of the classic car’s introduction at the 1964 World’s Fair.
Dr. Lloyd Paul Aiello Receives Wasserman Award from Research to Prevent Blindness: BOSTON, Mass. – July 8, 2010 – Lloyd Paul Aiello, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School has been granted a $60,000 RPB Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award by Research to Prevent Blindness.
Joslin Shows Transplanted Beta Cells Learn to Deal with Stress: BOSTON, Mass. - July 2, 2010 - For transplanted beta cells, life is tough. Not only are the insulin-producing cells in a stranger’s body, tucked into the liver rather than the pancreas, they are a bit short on oxygen and blood, and they are often exposed to raised levels of glucose. Joslin Diabetes Center scientists, however, have shown that the cells can protect themselves by actively adapting to their new homes—findings that may help to aid future transplants aimed at treating type 1 diabetes.
The Trouble with Tribbles in Diabetes: BOSTON, Mass. – July 1, 2010 – Named for the furballs whose astonishing fecundity made them stars in early Star Trek episodes, the tribbles protein, first identified in fruit flies, aids in regulating many cell processes in humans. Joslin Diabetes Center researchers now have identified mechanisms triggered by a variant of the tribbles gene that cause trouble in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells—and that offer a promising target for therapies for people with type 2 diabetes, even if they don’t carry that gene variant.
Joslin Diabetes Center in National Diabetes Trial Showing Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy Achieves Better Control than Daily Injections: BOSTON, Mass. – June 29, 2010 – Clinical research conducted at 30 trial sites in the U.S. and Canada, including Joslin Diabetes Center, showed adult and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes achieved better blood glucose control by using a sensor-augmented insulin pump compared to multiple daily insulin injections.
Joslin Diabetes Center Expands Pediatric Clinic: BOSTON, Mass. – June 23, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center is opening an expanded version of its pediatric clinic, with enhancements that allow more optimal multi-disciplinary care for children, teens and young adults with diabetes and their families.
Facebook Game Helps People with Diabetes Improve Everyday Behaviors: BERKELEY, Calif., and BOSTON, Mass. -- June 14, 2010 -- A new game called HealthSeeker(tm) launched today on Facebook(r), with the goal of helping players make specific lifestyle changes that focus on healthy eating. While the benefits of the game are available to anyone, HealthSeeker specifically helps people with diabetes make more informed lifestyle decisions in an innovative way that complements their daily use of social media.
Joslin Diabetes Center Names John Brooks Chairman of the Board: BOSTON, Mass. – May 14, 2010 – John L. Brooks III has been named Chairman of Joslin Diabetes Center’s Board of Trustees. He replaces Kevin E. Conley, President and CEO of Conley Search Group, who is stepping down after six years as Chairman.
Kuwait’s Dasman Institute Signs Agreement with Joslin Diabetes Center: BOSTON, Mass. – May 5, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center has signed a pre-implementation agreement with the Dasman Institute for the Research, Training and Prevention of Diabetes and Related Disorders for establishing a comprehensive program for diabetes care, management and research across Kuwait. The parties, already working on needs assessment and planning for the program, expect to execute a five-year agreement in September.
Joslin Research Shows Insulin Guards Against Artery Damage: BOSTON, Mass. – May 4, 2010 – Long suspected of worsening artery damage in patients with diabetes, insulin instead protects blood vessels, a new study by Joslin Diabetes Center scientists indicates.
Comparative-Effectiveness Study Confirms New Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema: BOSTON, Mass. – April 27, 2010 – Researchers have shown that ranibizumab (Lucentis) eye injections, often in combination with laser treatment, result in better vision than laser treatment alone for diabetes-associated swelling of the retina.
Key Protein Links Insulin Action and Insulin Resistance in Diabetes: BOSTON, Mass. – March 28, 2010 - Biologists have long known that an enzyme called the PI 3-kinase is a crucial actor in the main molecular pathway for insulin signaling in cells. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have uncovered startling evidence that one of the proteins in this enzyme also drives a pathway with an opposite result—triggering a stress response that leads to insulin resistance.
Joslin, AtlantiCare Announce Affiliation : BOSTON, Mass. – March 23, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization, has announced an affiliation with AtlantiCare, a regional healthcare organization based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
Generic Drug for Type 2 Diabetes Passes Next Clinical Hurdle: BOSTON, Mass. – March 16, 2010 – Clinical studies of a generic drug called salsalate, widely prescribed for arthritis, now provide promising early results that it may be useful for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes as well. Salsalate is an atypical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent that is chemically similar to aspirin but a bit easier on the stomach. In a three-month trial of people with type 2 diabetes that was led by Joslin Diabetes Center researchers, those who took the drug showed significantly improved blood glucose levels.
Clinical Trial Compares Leading-Edge Treatments for Obesity and Diabetes: BOSTON, Mass. – February 25, 2010 – Obesity is a major contributing factor to type 2 diabetes, a disease affecting more than 20 million people in the United States. For those who are overweight and have type 2 diabetes, weight loss lowers blood sugar levels and leads to improved health and better quality of life. However, it is difficult to lose weight and keep it off.
Joslin Study Finds Insulin Regulates Beta Cell Function in Healthy Humans : BOSTON, Mass. – February 15, 2010 – In type 2 diabetes, which is occurring at alarming rates, the hormone insulin does not work effectively to lower blood sugars and patients also do not make enough insulin. These two processes have been widely considered as separate. However, a surprising discovery was made by Joslin Diabetes Center researchers in animal models of diabetes: insulin is important in regulating its own production. Confirming this discovery, Joslin clinical scientists have now gone on to show that when blood sugar levels rise in healthy people, insulin signals the cells that make insulin to increase their production.
Beta cells need key protein to divide and conquer diabetes: BOSTON, Mass. – January 26, 2010 – In people who put on a lot of weight, or whose bodies start developing the inability to use insulin effectively that leads toward type 2 diabetes, the pancreas typically ramps up its supply of insulin-generating “beta” cells—at least in part by replication of existing beta cells. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center and their colleagues now have identified a cell-cycle protein that is essential for beta-cell replication to respond successfully to insulin resistance. The finding may point toward eventual therapies for preventing or treating type 2 diabetes.
Joslin Diabetes Center and dLife form new online partnership: BOSTON – January 26, 2010 – joslin.org, the Internet site for Harvard-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization, and dLife.com, the leading online community for people living with diabetes, today announced a new online partnership. dLife will host a resource page on its web site featuring the clinical and research information from Joslin. Joslin will host on its website food and cooking videos from dLife’s award-winning TV show dLifeTV as well as links to relevant information on dLife.com.

Page last updated: December 13, 2018