Congressman Cohen Announces Over $600,000 in Grants for UT-HSC, Meets with UT System President
“I’m very proud to announce two additional very large grants for the UT Health Science Center today,” said Congressman Cohen. “This money will go to continuing research to fight heart disease and diabetes, two diseases which are at epidemic levels in the 9th District. This is a direct investment towards our nation’s health, and another acknowledgment by HHS of the outstanding scientific research being done at UT Health Science Center.”
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of HHS awarded UT $342,000 for continuing Heart and Vascular Diseases Research, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of HHS awarded $279,225 for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Research.
Congressman Cohen also met with University of Tennessee System President John D. Peterson last week to discuss issues related to higher education currently before the Congress. “Dr. Peterson has done an exceptional job over the past few years and I was glad to have the opportunity to talk to him about how we can further assist their efforts here in Washington,” Congressman Cohen stated. “One of the things we want to work together on is combating the health problems affecting the people of the 9th District like heart disease, diabetes and stroke in conjunction with the UT Health Science Center.”
Ed Parks, Project Investigator on the Diabetes, Enocrinology Research Department at the UT Health Science Center, explained how the grants will assist him and his team in combating diabetes. “"The incidence of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically world wide,” said Dr. Parks. “Our studies will add to our understanding of therapies directed towards the reduction of insulin resistance in the liver.”
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Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, (202) 225-3265/ (202) 368-9275 (mobile)
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, (202) 225-3265 / (202) 320-2817 (mobile)