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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

 

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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases



 
 
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health
Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis....
. The Institute supports much of the clinical research
Clinical research

Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, Medical device, diagnosticss, and medical treatment intended for human use....
 on the diseases of internal medicine
Internal medicine

Internal Medicine is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of unusual or serious diseases. In North America, specialists in internal medicine are commonly called, "Internists." Elsewhere, especially in Commonwealth of Nations nations, such specialists are often called Physicians....
 and related subspecialty fields as well as many basic science disciplines.

The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases—including diabetes, obesity
Obesity

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively affected. It is commonly defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher....
, inborn errors of metabolism
Metabolism

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments....
, endocrine disorders
Endocrine system

The endocrine system is a system of small organs that involve the release of extracellular signaling molecules known as hormones. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating metabolism, human development , and tissue and also plays a part in determining Mood ....
, disorders of mineral metabolism—as well as digestive and liver
Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals; it has a wide range of functions, a few of which are detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion....
 diseases, nutrition
Nutrition

Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with good nutrition....
, urology
Urology

Urology is the surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological disorders....
 and renal disease, and hematology
Hematology

Hematology, American_and_British_English_spelling_differences#Simplification_of_ae_.28.C3.A6.29_and_oe_.28.C5.93.29 haematology, is the branch of biology , pathology, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases....
.






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The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health
Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis....
. The Institute supports much of the clinical research
Clinical research

Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, Medical device, diagnosticss, and medical treatment intended for human use....
 on the diseases of internal medicine
Internal medicine

Internal Medicine is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of unusual or serious diseases. In North America, specialists in internal medicine are commonly called, "Internists." Elsewhere, especially in Commonwealth of Nations nations, such specialists are often called Physicians....
 and related subspecialty fields as well as many basic science disciplines.

The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases—including diabetes, obesity
Obesity

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that health may be negatively affected. It is commonly defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher....
, inborn errors of metabolism
Metabolism

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments....
, endocrine disorders
Endocrine system

The endocrine system is a system of small organs that involve the release of extracellular signaling molecules known as hormones. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating metabolism, human development , and tissue and also plays a part in determining Mood ....
, disorders of mineral metabolism—as well as digestive and liver
Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals; it has a wide range of functions, a few of which are detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion....
 diseases, nutrition
Nutrition

Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with good nutrition....
, urology
Urology

Urology is the surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological disorders....
 and renal disease, and hematology
Hematology

Hematology, American_and_British_English_spelling_differences#Simplification_of_ae_.28.C3.A6.29_and_oe_.28.C5.93.29 haematology, is the branch of biology , pathology, clinical laboratory, internal medicine, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases....
. Basic research studies include biochemistry
Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry processes in living organisms. It deals with the structure and function of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules....
, biophysics
Biophysics

Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that employs and develops theories and methods of the physical sciences for the investigation of biology systems....
, nutrition, pathology
Pathology

Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of Organ , tissue , bodily fluids and whole bodies . The term also encompasses the related science study of disease processes, called General pathology....
, histochemistry, bioorganic chemistry
Chemistry

Chemistry is the science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions....
, physical chemistry, chemical and molecular biology
Biology

Biology is a branch of the natural sciences concerned with the study of living organisms and their interaction with each other and their environment ....
, and pharmacology
Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the study of drug action. More specifically it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and exogenous chemicals that alter normal biochemical function....
.

NIDDK extramural research is organized into four divisions: Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases; Digestive Diseases and Nutrition; Kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases; and Extramural Activities.

The Institute supports basic and clinical research through investigator-initiated grants, program project and center grants, and career development and training awards. The NIDDK also supports research and development projects and large-scale clinical trials through contracts.

NIDDK Office of the Director

Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.B.A, M.A.C.P. is currently the director of the NIDDK. Dr. Rodgers also serves as deputy director of NIDDK (since 2001) and as chief of NIDDK's Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch (since 1998).

Dr. Rodgers received his undergraduate, graduate and medical degrees from Brown University
Brown University

Brown University is a private university university located in , United States and is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1764 as the College of Rhode Island, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in New England and Colonial Colleges in the United States....
 in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the Capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States....
. He also has a master's degree in business administration, with a focus on the business of medicine from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University

The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Hopkins or JHU, is a private university research university located in Baltimore, Maryland, Maryland, United States....
. He did his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital
Barnes Hospital

Barnes Hospital, also known as Barnes Convalescent Home, in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, England, is a former hospital. It is located near to the A34 road and is in the middle of the complex interchange between the A34, M60 motorway and M56 motorway....
, and the St. Louis VA Hospital, respectively, Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine

Washington University School of Medicine, located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the most competitive and highly regarded medical schools and biomedical research institutes in the United States and the world....
 in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri, located near the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. St....
. His fellowship training in hematology/oncology
Oncology

Oncology is the branch of medicine that studies tumors . A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist. The term originates from the Greek onkos , meaning bulk, mass, or tumor and the suffix -logy, meaning "study of"....
 was in a joint program of the NIH with George Washington University
George Washington University

The George Washington University is a Private university, Mixed-sex education university located in Washington, D.C. The school was chartered on February 9, 1821 as The Columbian College in the District of Columbia by an Act of Congress and since that time has developed into a nonsectarian research institution....
 and the Washington Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Dr. Rodgers is widely recognized for his contributions to the development of the first effective — and now FDA approved — therapy for sickle cell anemia. He has served as the principal investigator in clinical trials to elevate pharmacologically fetal hemoglobin
Fetal hemoglobin

Fetal hemoglobin, or Foetal haemoglobin in British English, is the main oxygen transport protein in the fetus during the last seven months of development in the uterus and in the newborn until roughly 6 months old....
 to counteract the deleterious molecular and cellular effects present in the red cells of these patients. Dr. Rodgers' basic research has focused on understanding the molecular basis of how these drugs induce gamma-globin gene expression
Gene expression

Gene expression is the process by which inheritable information from a gene, such as the DNA sequence, is made into a functional gene product, such as protein or RNA....
 and on lineage-specific differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. He was honored for his research with the 1998 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award and the 2000 Arthur S. Fleming Award, among others. He has published over 150 original research articles, reviews, and book chapters and has edited two books.

Dr. Rodgers served as governor to the American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is a national organization of doctors of internal medicine , physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection and treatment of illnesses in adults....
 for the Department of Health and Human Services and is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the Association of American Physicians
Association of American Physicians

The Association of American Physicians is a health association founded in 1885 by the Canadian physician Sir William Osler and six other distinguished physicians of his era, for "the advancement of scientific and practical medicine." Election to the AAP is an honor extended to individuals with outstanding credentials in biomedical science a...
. He is the chair of the Hematology Subspecialty Board and is a member of the ABIM Board of Directors.

Divisions


Division of Intramural Research (DIR)

The Division of Intramural Research conducts research and training within the Institute's laboratories and clinical facilities in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland

Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Presbyterian Church, built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1850, which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda....
, and at the Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch in Arizona.

The Division has 12 Branches and 10 Laboratories that cover a wide range of research areas. In addition, there is a section on veterinary sciences, a section on biological chemistry, the Office of Technology Transfer, the Office of Fellow Recruitment and Career Development, and an Administrative Management Branch. Six core laboratories provide scientific support services to investigators.

The Intramural Branches engage in both basic and clinical research on diabetes, bone metabolism, endocrinology, obesity, hematology, digestive diseases, kidney diseases, kidney transplantation and genetics
Genetics

Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of heredity and Genetic variation in living organisms. The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding....
. Additionally, the Phoenix Branch develops and applies epidemiologic and genetic methods to the study of diabetes and obesity. The tenth branch addresses mathematical modeling of biological problems.

The Laboratories are engaged in fundamental research related to the institute's mission in the fields of molecular biology, structural biology, chemistry, cell biology, pharmacology, chemical physics, biochemistry, neuroscience
Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a field devoted to the scientific study of the nervous system. The Society for Neuroscience was founded in 1969, but the study of the brain started a long time ago....
, and developmental biology, and mathematical modeling of biological problems.

The Laboratory Animal Science section provides research animal support and collaboration for institute research programs. The six core laboratories provide services to interested NIDDK scientists in the areas of proteomics
Proteomics

Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins, particularly their protein structure and functional genomics. Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, as they are the main components of the physiological metabolic pathways of biological cell....
 and mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique for the determination of the elemental composition of a sample or molecule. It is also used for elucidating the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and other chemical compounds....
, microarray
Microarray

Different kinds of biological assays are called microarrays:*DNA microarrays, such as cDNA microarrays and oligonucleotide microarrays*MMChips, for surveillance of microRNA populations...
, chemical biology, mouse metabolism/transgenic support, biotechnological support, and knockout mice.

Division of Extramural Activities (DEA)

The Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) is responsible for coordinating the receipt, referral and scientific review of extramural research applications and proposals before funding, and for the processing of awards for grants, cooperative agreements and contracts. It logs in, assigns and internally distributes all extramural applications and proposals received by the NIDDK, and conducts scientific and technical peer review for grant applications and contract proposals requiring special programmatic consideration. The DEA also manages an acquisitions and general contracting service center that services NIDDK and several other NIH Institutes/Centers as well. The DEA also coordinates the Institute’s Committee Management Activities and the meetings of the National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Advisory Council. Finally, the DEA performs and coordinates programmatic analysis and evaluation activities.

Organizationally the Division has three primary functional components: The Grants Management Branch is the focal point for all business-related activities associated with the negotiation, award, and administration of grants and cooperative agreements within the NIDDK.

The Scientific Review Branch coordinates the initial scientific peer review of applications submitted in response to Request for Applications (RFAs), training and career awards, program projects, multi-center clinical trials and research contracts, including Loan Repayment Program applications. Most R01s, R21s, Fellowship and SBIR grant applications are reviewed in the Center for Scientific Review.

The Office of Acquisitions plans, organizes, directs, awards, and administers a comprehensive acquisition program for three Institutes and one Center: NIDDK, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

File:US-NIH-NICHD-2008Logo.svg? The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , created by Congress in 1962, supports and conducts research on topics related to the health of children, adults, families, and populations....
 (NICHD); the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism , as part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, supports and conducts biomedical and behavioral research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems....
 (NIAAA); and the John E. Fogarty International Center (FIC).

Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases (DDEM)

The DEMD supports research and research training related to diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus , often referred to simply as diabetes , is a syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a combination of genetic disorder and environmental causes, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels ....
, endocrinology, and metabolic diseases including cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a Genetic disorder affecting the exocrine glands of the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines, causing progressive disability due to multisystem failure....
. In addition, DEMD leads the administration of the Trans-NIH Diabetes Program and coordinates federally supported diabetes-related activities.

Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition (DDDN)

This division supports research related to liver and biliary diseases, pancreatic
Pancreas

The pancreas is a gland Organ in the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland , as well as an exocrine gland, secreting pancreatic juice containing Digestion enzymes that pass to the small intestine....
 diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, including neuroendocrinology
Neuroendocrinology

Neuroendocrinology is the study of the interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system. The concept arose from the recognition that the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland is closely controlled by the brain, especially by the hypothalamus....
, motility
Motility

Motility is a biology term which refers to the ability to move spontaneously and actively, consuming energy in the process. It can apply to either single-celled or multicellular organisms....
, immunology
Immunology

Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with, among other things, the physiology functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the physical, chemical an...
, and digestion in the GI tract, nutrient metabolism, obesity, eating disorders, and energy regulation. The division provides leadership in coordinating activities related to digestive diseases and nutrition throughout the NIH and with various other Federal agencies.

Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases (DKUH)

The division supports research on diseases of the kidney, genitourinary tract, and blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
 and blood-forming organs, and on the fundamental biology relevant to these organ systems. It funds training and professional development of investigators in disciplines critical for research in these areas.

Health Education and Information Services


Clearinghouses

The NDDIC also operates the following clearinghouses: the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), and the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). The three clearinghouses serve as information resources for patients, the public, and health professionals concerned with diabetes, digestive diseases, and kidney and urologic diseases. Each was authorized by the United States Congress
United States Congress

The United States Congress is the Bicameralism legislature of the Federal government of the United States of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives....
 to increase knowledge and understanding about these areas through the effective dissemination of information. The NDIC was authorized by Congress in 1976, the NDDIC in 1980, and the NKUDIC in 1987.

The clearinghouses answer inquiries; develop, print and distribute publications; and work closely with professional and patient-advocacy organizations and U.S. Government agencies to coordinate informational resources about diabetes, digestive diseases, and kidney and urologic diseases.

The clearinghouses also develop and maintain a free, online bibliographic database of reference materials, audiovisuals, educational materials, and “fugitive” literature in its Reference Collection, as well as an image library of free non-copyrighted images, and linkages to relevant interactive resources.

The clearinghouses provide two campaigns to increase awareness and action for people with underdiagnosed or undertreated conditions: celiac disease and bladder
Bladder

Bladder may refer to:* A bladder is a pouch or other flexible enclosure with waterproof or gasproof walls* Gas bladder, an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy...
 control issues in women.

National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)

The NDEP, co-sponsored by the NIDDK and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an agency of the United States United States Department of Health and Human Services based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States adjacent to the campus of Emory University and northeast of downtown Atlanta....
 (CDC), is focused on improving the treatment and outcomes for people with diabetes, promoting early diagnosis, and ultimately preventing the onset of diabetes. The goal of the program is to reduce the morbidity and mortality
Mortality rate

Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in some population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time. Mortality rate is typically expressed in units of deaths per 1000 individuals per year; thus, a mortality rate of 9.5 in a population of 100,000 would mean 950 deaths per year in that entire population....
 associated with diabetes through public awareness and education activities targeted to the general public, especially those with at risk for type 2 diabetes, people with diabetes and their families, health care providers, and policy makers and payers. These activities are designed to
  1. increase public awareness that diabetes is a serious, common, costly, and controllable disease that has recognizable symptoms and risk factors; # encourage people with diabetes, their families, and their social support systems to take diabetes seriously and to improve practice of self-management behaviors;
  2. reduce disparities in health in racial and ethnic populations disproportionately affected by diabetes and
  3. alert health care providers to the seriousness of diabetes, effective strategies for its prevention and control, and the importance of a team care approach to helping patients manage the disease. Toward these ends, the NDEP develops partnerships with organizations concerned about diabetes and the health care of its constituents.


National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP)

The NKDEP addresses the growing problem of kidney disease in this country and aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by kidney disease and its complications. The program is dedicated to raising awareness of the seriousness of kidney disease and its risk factors, the importance of testing those at high risk, and the availability of treatment to prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure.

Weight-control Information Network

The WIN was established in 1994 to provide health professionals and consumers with science-based information on obesity, weight control, and nutrition. The WIN has also developed the Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better Media program that encourages Black women 18 and over to maintain a healthy weight by becoming more physically active and eating healthier foods.

External links