Shao Receives American Diabetes Association Award
Lexington, KY (July 10, 2007)—The American Diabetes Association (ADA) research program awarded Jianhua Shao, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, the American Diabetes Association 2007 Thomas R. Lee Career Development Award for his study on Transcriptional regulation of adiponectin gene expression.
Shao’s investigation will focus on the hormone adiponectin, which is made and secreted by fat tissue and exists in reduced levels in obese people and those with type 2 diabetes. His research will examine this hormone under normal (non-obese and non-diabetic) conditions with the intent to discover why obese people and people with type 2 diabetes have this hormonal difference. The research will hopefully unlock a new research avenue toward curing this disease and lead to new therapies for obesity and obesity-related diseases. This premier award supports investigators who are establishing their independence and are poised to make significant contributions to diabetes research. Dr Shao’s funding will take effect immediately and will last 5 years.
Thomas R. Lee was born in 1909 to a family of hardworking farmers in Norfolk, Virginia. For most of his life, Mr. Lee was a successful land owner and property developer in and around his beloved hometown of Norfolk. Known by all for his skilled business sense, dedication to friends and tremendous kindness to others, he generously supported the causes for which he was most passionate. Inspired by his personal sense of philanthropy and his own battle with diabetes, Mr. Lee made sure that a charitable portion of his estate went to the American Diabetes Association upon his death.
The American Diabetes Association funds research aimed at preventing and curing diabetes, as well as research designed to help people with diabetes live longer, healthier, more normal lives. The goal of the ADA research program is to leverage its investment in research to achieve the greatest possible benefit for people with diabetes. In funding innovative research such as that led by Shao, the research program supports research projects that cover the spectrum of diabetes-related investigation.
To receive the Career Development Award, Shao submitted application materials demonstrating scientific abilities and research potential that meet the strict criteria of the Association’s peer review process.
“In this era of cost-consciousness and cutting-edge research, it is important to recognize and support researchers like Dr. Shao, who are leading the way toward a brighter future for people with diabetes,” said Stewart Perry, Chair of the Board-Elect of the American Diabetes Association. “We are confident that these funds will truly benefit the diabetes community.”
Diabetes is a chronic disease and a silent killer. Nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes and 54 million have pre-diabetes. If current trends continue, one in three Americans—and one in two minorities—born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Diabetes is the nation’s fifth deadliest disease, contributing to more than 224,000 deaths annually. A major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, diabetes is also the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations.