News Release

Dr. Andrew Advani receives Diabetes Innovation Award

Research focus is to slow and potentially reverse kidney damage in patients suffering from diabetes

Grant and Award Announcement

St. Michael's Hospital

TORONTO, Ont., Dec. 29, 2011--Dr. Andrew Advani, an endocrinologist at St. Michael's Hospital, is one of 10 researchers in North America who received a newly created Novo Nordisk Diabetes Innovation Award.

Dr. Advani's Early Exploration Award is worth $325,000 (U.S.) over two years.

His research focus is to slow and potentially reverse kidney damage in patients suffering from diabetes. In diabetic kidney disease, the tiny filters in the kidney known as glomeruli become damaged and begin to leak proteins into the urine.

This award will enable Dr. Advani to investigate new ways to slow or even prevent kidney damage that leads to protein leakage. Through his studies, Dr. Advani hopes to develop new treatments to prevent kidney injury in diabetes, currently the most common cause of kidney disease worldwide.

Dr. Advani's research project was selected from more than 80 proposals submitted from U.S. and Canadian research institutions.

Novo Nordisk is an international healthcare company based in Denmark recognized as a world leader in diabetes treatment. The Novo Nordisk Diabetes Innovation Award Program was launched in 2011 to help scientists substantiate early research efforts that could result in new treatment options for diabetes and obesity.

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About St. Michael's Hospital

St. Michael's Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 23 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, and care of the homeless are among the Hospital's recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Center, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael's Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. For more information, please visit www.novonordisk.com . More information about the Novo Nordisk Diabetes Innovation Award Program and how to apply can be found at www.novonordisk-us.com/innovation.

For more information, please contact:
Leslie Shepherd
Manager, Media Strategy
Phone: 416-864-6094
shepherdl@smh.ca
St. Michael's Hospital
Inspired Care. Inspiring Science.
www.stmichaelshospital.com
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