Baylor All Saints Islet Cell Research Team Receives $109,000 Grant

Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth announced today that the Baylor All Saints Islet Cell research team has received a $109,000 grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). 

This is the first JDRF grant to be received by Baylor Research Institute for the Baylor All Saints Islet Cell Research team. Hirofumi Noguchi, M.D., Ph.D., a leading member of the islet cell research team, will utilize the one-year grant to focus research on regenerative medicine technology - growing "new" islet cells from non-islet tissue, such as pancreatic ductal tissue. 

"We are very grateful to the JDRF for their support and recognition of the islet cell research being conducted at Baylor Research Institute," said Dr. Noguchi. "This is a very promising research protocol, and we are very excited about the innovative treatment options this might provide for type 1 diabetes patients in the future." 

JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1diabetes is a disease which strikes children suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and amputation. 

The not-for-profit Baylor All Saints Medical Centers serve more than 100,000 people annually through two hospitals, numerous primary care physician centers and practices, a rehabilitation and fitness center, and a variety of medical specialties. Programs of excellence in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology and women's services form the heart of the hospitals' services. All Saints joined Baylor Health Care System in January 2002. All Saints Health Foundation, a separately incorporated not-for-profit organization, raises and manages charitable funds to support Baylor All Saints Medical Centers. For fiscal year 2007, Baylor Health Care System reported $390 million* in community benefit, which includes providing care for charity patients and patients enrolled in government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the unreimbursed costs of medical education, research and community programs. For a physician referral, call toll free 1-800-4BAYLOR or use our on-line physician directory

*Represents preliminary information that will be reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System's subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor All Saints Medical Center or Baylor Health Care System

Contact: Mary Johnson, (817) 922-7088 or Sunny Drenik, (817) 922-7100
Email: maryjohn@baylorhealth.edu or sunnydr@baylorhealth.edu 

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com