TRADITION, Miss., Aug. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute (NDORI) today announced an affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute designed to enhance diabetes- and obesity-related research, discover better treatment protocols, and, ultimately, cultivate a healthier Mississippi and nation.
The affiliation combines the academic, clinical and research components of the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute with the newly formed diabetes and research institute. The Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute is ranked No. 3 in the nation for diabetes care by U.S. News & World Report.
“I am delighted to announce this groundbreaking affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute. Their extensive expertise in diabetes, obesity, and endocrinology research is an essential element in establishing NDORI as the preeminent diabetes and obesity research center in the United States,” said Phil Bryant, Governor of the State of Mississippi. “Diabetes and prediabetes affects over one million people in the state of Mississippi, almost a third of our population, so there is no greater place to conduct this groundbreaking research.”
“The hope is that the National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute will help find a cure and enhance healthcare, not only in Mississippi but across the United States,” said Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves. “Improving the health and well-being of our citizens afflicted by diabetes also makes good fiscal policy for the state as healthcare programs are hit by related costs. With this new research, better protocols and treatments, we can reduce this number and improve our overall healthcare system.”
The National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute (NDORI) is the vision of Joseph C. Canizaro, real estate developer and philanthropist. Mr. Canizaro’s passion for diabetes research and drive to find a cure comes from his personal experience with type 2 diabetes.
NDORI will be part of a 150-acre learning medical city located in the Tradition community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and will be modeled after successful research centers at the heart of communities that are anchored by healthcare and educational organizations.
NDORI will work closely with a core team of Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute experts, led by Richard Shewbridge, M.D., an endocrinologist and the executive medical director for this affiliation.
“Thanks to this affiliation, NDORI and the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute will join forces to advance diabetes research and fight diabetes,” said Dr. Shewbridge. “We will focus on four strategic areas: diabetes and obesity research, diabetes and obesity clinical care, patient and provider education, and an outcomes and research database.”
James Young, M.D., a cardiologist and chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute said, “With this affiliation, NDORI and the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute will compare different approaches in various locations, including Mississippi, the Gulf Coast, and Ohio. This is an exciting opportunity to further our mission of finding better approaches to managing the scourge of diabetes and obesity in America.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes – that’s about 1 out of every 11 people nationwide. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that 15.4 percent of the population in Mississippi has diabetes. And, about 13.5 percent of the population in Ohio has diabetes.
Once the affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute is fully implemented, the patients of NDORI will enjoy greater access to best practices related to diabetes and obesity treatment. Leading Mississippi healthcare systems, such as Memorial Hospital and Coastal Family Health Centers, William Carey University’s nursing and medical related programs, as well as the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will have an opportunity to access NDORI’s resources via an affiliate program.
In the future, NDORI would like to expand its scope of work beyond the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the rest of the state and the nation, including rural areas where multiple underserved or uninsured individuals are affected by diabetes.
About NDORI
The National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute was founded in 2015 by a group of key healthcare, education and business leaders in Mississippi, along with state and local government officials. This research facility is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute, and is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes, conducting and sharing ground-breaking clinical trials and research, reducing diabetes instances nationally, and using technology and other healthcare channels to address the disparities in underserved and at risk populations. The Institute will be located in Mississippi, center of the diabetes epidemic in the United States, and is a central element of the 150-acre Learning Medical City located in the Tradition community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Nationally renowned experts in the fields of diabetes and obesity from the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute will work side by side with other renowned researchers to develop treatment protocols that will be implemented nationally. To learn more, visit www.diabetescure.me. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationaldiabetesobesityresearchinstitute.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 49,000 employees are more than 3,400 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 14,000 nurses, representing 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, nine community hospitals, more than 150 northern Ohio outpatient locations – including 18 full-service family health centers and three health and wellness centers – and locations in Weston, Fla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2015, there were 6.6 million outpatient visits, 164,700 hospital admissions and 208,807 surgical cases throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 180 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.
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