BRIDGES

Belgium/Sri Lanka, 5 March 2008 - The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has chosen the National Diabetes Centre of Sri Lanka (NDC) as one of the 11 first funding recipients of its translational research grant programme, BRIDGES, from over 108 global applications.

The National Diabetes Centre project was awarded $399,670 USD by the BRIDGES programme to complete research over the next three years. Dr. Mahendra Wijesuriya, Director of the National Diabetes Centre and the principal investigator for this project, said that the study expects to identify risk factors, find out the rate of incidence, compare significance of new end points, develop risk scores and develop a low primary prevention strategy for Sri Lanka.

“This grant is of great value to the people of Sri Lanka,” said Dr Wijesuriya. “It would have been impossible to engage in such an extensive study without this generous grant. It is vital that we identify those at high risk as early as possible and alter their lifestyles to minimize or delay the tendency to develop these diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

The study will include a random selection of 10-40 year olds in cities throughout Sri Lanka whose risk factors will be identified through simple questionnaires. Investigators project that the study will include 25,000 people, of whom, 5,000 are projected have two or more risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. Participants will receive regular medical and physical check-ups and will also be evaluated on lifestyle changes through high and low intensity lifestyle modification groups.

“If our study confirms the presence of risk factors at an early age in our community, it will give us an opportunity to correct such anomalies through lifestyle modification without pharmacological intervention such as diet, exercise, weight control and stress through awareness and education,” said Dr. Wijesuriya. “We feel this information will have a significant impact in the development of a low cost interventional tool which could be used as an effective primary prevention strategy nationally, regionally and globally.”

According to the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, 8.4% of Sri Lankans currently live with diabetes. By 2025, 10.7% of the population will have the disease. “This project provides the opportunity to address the diabetes epidemic in a community with great need. We received many applications and although it was difficult choosing a small number of worthy projects, this program was of high quality and presented a unique opportunity to reach many people at a younger age at risk for developing diabetes,” said Dr. Linda Siminerio, Chair of the BRIDGES Review Committee.

BRIDGES (Bringing Research in Diabetes to Global Environments and Systems) financially supports translational research projects. These projects adapt science to meet the needs of people living with diabetes and implement practical solutions for improving diabetes care and prevention worldwide. BRIDGES is fully and independently managed by the International Diabetes Federation and is supported by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company.

The projects for the first cycle of funding were chosen by BRIDGES Review Committee - a multi-disciplinary team chosen and led by the the International Diabetes Federation. Their selection considered the cost effectiveness, sustainability and the ability of interventions to be widely replicated in other settings. The details of all projects are available at http://www.idfbridges.org.

**ENDS**

Contacts:

• International Diabetes Federation, please contact Kerrita McClaughlyn, Media Relations, Email: kerrita.mcclaughlyn@idf.org, Tel: +32-2-543-1639 or Mobile: +32-487-530625.
• Dr. Mahendra Wijesuriya contact: Tel: +94 11 2693375 Email: amrit@slt.lk