Michigan Diabetes Research Center (MDRC)

MDRC Center Overview Project Summary/Abstract The mission of the MDRC is to promote new discoveries and enhance scientific progress in diabetes, its complications, and related metabolic disorders through the support of cutting-edge basic and clinical research by its highly interactive research base. The MDRC research base comprises 148 members with $56.8 million annual direct cost funding for diabetes-related research (over $80 million including center and training grants): 106 University of Michigan (U-M) members with $42.4 million ($64.9 million including center and training grants) of annual direct cost diabetes-related funding, plus 42 regional members with $14.4 million of annual direct cost diabetes-related funding at five nearby Regional Partner Institutions: Michigan State University (MSU), Ohio State University (OSU), the University of Toledo (UT), the Van Andel Institute (VAI), and Wayne State University (WSU). The investigators that make up the MDRC research base perform ground-breaking research in five broad areas relevant to diabetes: Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Metabolism; Integrative Aspects of Diabetes and Metabolism; Islet Biology; Diabetic Complications; and Clinical Research in Diabetes and Metabolism. To support and empower research by its members, the MDRC will: 1. Coordinate activities that raise awareness of, interest in, and support for basic and translational research in diabetes, its complications, and related endocrine and metabolic disorders at U-M and beyond. 2. Advance learning and promote scientific exchange related to diabetes, its complications, and related metabolic disorders. 3. Provide research cores that provide shared, specialized technical resources and expertise that enhance the efficiency, productivity, and multidisciplinary nature of research performed by MDRC investigators. 4. Support a Pilot and Feasibility grant program. 5. Provide support for research in diabetes, its complications, and related endocrine and metabolic disorders at Regional Partner Institutions. The MDRC provides membership, enrichment activities, an Expanded (Regional) Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program, and access to the MDRC Molecular Genetics Core for researchers at Regional Partner Institutions who study diabetes, its complications, and related endocrine and metabolic disorders.