Studies to focus on chronic illnesses
State Sen.
Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, and the state Department of Public Health Deputy Commissioner Lisa Davis recently announced recipients of
state funding for biomedical research into diseases associated
with tobacco use and other chronic illnesses.
A total of $3,010,611 was awarded this
year by the Connecticut Department of Public Health from the
state’s Biomedical Research Trust Fund.
These funds will support nine
research projects conducted by researchers from
the UCONN Health Center, and Yale University. 
The Biomedical Research Trust Fund
awards are just one example of Connecticut’s ongoing investment in the
growing field of bioscience.
Earlier this year, Gov. Dannel P.
Malloy proposed the Bioscience Innovation Act which,
over 10 years, will establish a $200 million fund to strengthen
Connecticut’s bio science sector.
“These grants awarded today – part of
an annual program to help underwrite cutting edge, health-related
research – are consistent with what seems to be a growing and
accelerating emphasis on comparable projects in Connecticut,” Crisco said.
“We have recently agreed to invest in an
overhaul of the UConn Health Center and provide economic development
funding for Jackson Labs – it’s gratifying to know Connecticut plans to
continue setting the pace in health-related research
throughout the foreseeable future.”
“These projects were selected from a
field of highly competitive applications received in response to a
Request for Proposals issued by the department last summer,” Davis said.
“The funds made
available through the Biomedical Research Trust Fund represent an
investment in Connecticut-based research that is providing new insight
into how to treat and prevent leading causes of death
and disability.”
With this eighth round of proposals
funded by DPH, nearly $14.5 million has been awarded to
Connecticut research institutions for the purpose of funding biomedical
research into tobacco-related diseases, Alzheimer’s
disease and diabetes.
In 2000, the Biomedical Research Trust
Fund was established by the Connecticut General Assembly to fund
biomedical research into tobacco-related illnesses such as heart disease
and cancer.
The trust fund may accept transfers
from the Tobacco Settlement Fund. Non-profit, tax-exempt academic
institutions of higher education or hospitals that conduct biomedical
research are eligible to apply for these funds.
In 2010 P.A. 10-136
expanded the scope of research funded by the trust fund
to include Alzheimer's disease and diabetes research.
According to state health officials,
tobacco is the single most preventable cause of mortality and morbidity
in our society.
In Connecticut, tobacco use is associated with more than
5,000 deaths per year. These deaths are primarily
caused by cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease.
An estimated 6.9 percent of the Connecticut
adult population or approximately 186,000 adults age 18 years and older
have been diagnosed with diabetes. An additional 93,000 Connecticut
adults are estimated to have undiagnosed diabetes.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. It is the sixth leading
cause of death among American adults, and the fifth leading cause of death
for adults aged 65 years and older.
This information is taken from a press release from Crisco's office.
