Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2022 - 2

A Word from ADA's Chief Scientific & Medical Officer
Dear Friends,
I marvel at the work of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) every day. The teams of professionals working at and
volunteering with the ADA are constantly accomplishing incredible things.
Gathering to Celebrate Science
One of the incredible feats the Association is on the verge of is our 82nd Scientific Sessions, scheduled for June 3-7,
2022. For the first time ever, this conference will be conducted in a hybrid format, with concurrent options for in-person
and virtual attendance. We are preparing to welcome thousands of our colleagues and friends to New Orleans, LA, in a
celebratory manner to showcase the world's most compelling and leading-edge science in the realm of diabetes.
If you have not yet registered, now is the time. Visit scientificsessions.diabetes.org to register today. You will not want
to miss the incredible lectures from our presidents and award winners, as well as presentations from the many basic science
and clinical researchers who are making significant discoveries every day. I am particularly proud that the majority of the
ADA's 2022 National Scientific and Health Care Achievement Award winners are women, including the recipients of our
two top science prizes.
Rising to the World's Challenges
As you well know, we are in the midst of many humanitarian crises around the world, and these tragedies inevitably cause
many people with diabetes to suffer and struggle. Any time people with diabetes are hurting, we hurt, too. In response to
these overlapping emergencies, the ADA has assembled a Diabetes Disaster Response Coalition (DDRC). This group
of volunteer experts from various institutions and organizations creates, updates, and adapts disaster relief resources for
people with diabetes and their health care providers. This rapid-response team pools resources and expertise from many
sources such as physicians in war-torn regions and online physician support groups. We are grateful to everyone who has
contributed to this effort. Recently developed resources, including a diabetes disaster preparedness plan and resources to
help people with diabetes in Ukraine, are available on the coalition's website. The DDRC is one way we are working across
the diabetes landscape to care for people in need, wherever they are.
Expanding Support of Research
Another major initiative at the ADA involves supporting research and expanding our research portfolio. This year, we will
award three times more research grants and 40% more funds than in 2021. Five requests for applications will launch this
year, and each will include multiple grant opportunities. The awards will support postdoctoral, junior faculty, innovative basic
science, and innovative clinical/translational science projects.
Our commitment to research also involves expanding our Pathway to Stop Diabetes program, a unique, long-term
investment in the best and brightest scientists in diabetes. Our aim is to fund 100 brilliant scientists with 100+ brilliant
ideas that transform diabetes. The latest Pathway award cycle is open for applications right now.
The ADA's research expansion is a direct result of the financial health of the
organization. Our healthy operating margin drives our ability to have more impact
and to make greater investments in diabetes science. We are grateful for the
generous support that makes our research program possible.
I look forward to seeing many of you in New Orleans (or online!) soon and to
celebrating together our shared progress.
Vest best regards,
Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD,
ADA Chief Scientific & Medical Officer
2 DiabetesPro Quarterly | SPRING 2022

https://professional.diabetes.org/scientific-sessions https://www.diabetesdisasterresponse.org/

Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Spring 2022