Partnership focuses on diabetes research

Toronto, On – The University Health Network and the University of Toronto’s Banting & Best Diabetes Centre have formed a partnership they say will enhance diabetes education, research and patient care.

The collaboration will allow both organizations to bring together experts with diverse backgrounds and expertise from across the University of Toronto, and the U of T Faculty of Medicine’s 10 fully affiliated hospitals and 11 community sites to collaborate on innovative prevention and treatment strategies.

“The commitment and resources deployed under this new partnership will significantly enhance our ability to achieve a global impact in research, education and clinical care of diabetes,” said Dr Daniel Drucker, director of Banting & Best. “The centre will be a magnet for top researchers and innovators from around the world.”

The partnership, which will be housed at UHN’s Toronto General Hospital site, will have a major focus on islet cell biology and stem cell research.

“The Toronto General Hospital was instrumental in Banting and Best’s discovery,” said Dr Robert Bell, President and CEO of University Health Network. “We are very pleased to be able to support the work of the BBDC and provide a place where diabetes research will be the focus of improving lives and ultimately curing this disease.”