The continuous rise in the number of diabetic patients in Germany and the associated socio-economic burden for the health system urgently require the development of new causal therapies. „Together with our partners we aim to establish a sustainable infrastructure, to bring innovative approaches of diabetes therapy rapidly and directly to the patients“ explains Prof. Michael Roden, scientific Director of the German Diabetes Center and coordinator of the new Center of Competence for Innovative Diabetes Therapy (KomIT). „Our joint activities aim to bundle expertise, finally leading to scientific and technological break-throughs in diabetes research“. In addition to the German Diabetes Center, the other partners are: Algiax Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Taros Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG, Lead Discovery Center GmbH, vivo Science GmbH, A & M Labor für Analytik und Metabolismusforschung Service GmbH, PROFIL Institut für Stoffwechselforschung GmbH, and TU Dortmund with the Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD).
In Northrhine-Westphalia, excellent basic research in the field of clinical-experimental diabetes studies is conducted for a long time. However, translation of these results into clinical applications is not yet sufficient to generate an economic boost. For start-ups and small companies with high innovation potential it is often not possible to carry out extensive experimental and clinical research with sufficient critical mass. At this point, the new Center of Competence provides strategic support. Leading idea is to build up a sustainable infrastructure that combines expertise from management, medicinal chemistry, preclinical and analytical studies, toxicology and physiology, up to clinical testing.
This novel research infrastructure provides a strong boost for the pharma and biotech sector in Northrhine-Westphalia and supports innovation and competitiveness in NRW. The project is funded within the program „EFRE.NRW – Investitionen in Wachstum und Beschäftigung“ supported by NRW and the Europen Union.
contact for scientific information:
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Eckel
Managing Director KomIT
Deutsches Diabetes-Zentrum (DDZ)
Leibniz-Zentrum für Diabetes-Forschung
an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
Tel.: 0211-3382-561
E-Mail: Juergen.Eckel@ddz.de