Two of the world's leading medical device companies in the fields of endoscopic and bariatric surgery are joining together to support a major, novel research effort through the American Diabetes Association.

The American Diabetes Association Research Award Program in Bariatric Surgery in Diabetes, sponsored by Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Covidien, will provide $1 million in funding to support up to three, three-year research grants through the American Diabetes Association. The research grants support the investigation of the specific mechanistic effects of bariatric surgery on diabetes. They also support translational research to improve the clinical understanding of various bariatric procedures as potential treatment options for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"This represents an unprecedented collaboration between two companies that have come together to advance the scientific and clinical understanding of bariatric surgery," said Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. "We welcome this approach and the partnership as there are many unanswered questions surrounding the effects of bariatric surgery on obese patients with type 2 diabetes."

"We certainly anticipate that these projects will shed greater light on the underlying mechanism by which substantial weight loss and bariatric procedures have been shown to improve the health of obese people with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Richard Toselli, Chief Medical Officer, Surgical Devices, Covidien. "This research has the potential to provide better insights into the benefits we've seen following surgery but which have not been well understood."

"Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.," said Kenneth Sumner, Vice President, Worldwide Scientific Affairs, Ethicon Endo-Surgery. "It has only recently come to light that the physiological response to bariatric surgery may offer some new hope for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from it. Our company is pleased to be part of this important collaboration to examine the cause and effect linkage between bariatric surgery and diabetes recovery."

The American Diabetes Association's request for applications (RFA) is available here. Research awards will be announced and recipients notified in July 2011.

Source:
Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Covidien
American Diabetes Association