About the DERC

The University of Washington Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center (DERC) was founded in 1977 with grant support from the NIH. The primary purpose of the DERC is to facilitate and enhance the diabetes-related research of approximately 100 Affiliate Investigators at the University of Washington. The DERC also serves as a regional and national resource for diabetes investigators at other institutions. The ultimate goals of diabetes research are to elucidate the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease processes causing diabetes and the end-organ complications of this disease. The DERC seeks to utilize this knowledge in developing therapies to prevent and treat diabetes and its complications, so that the findings of diabetes research can be translated into improved patient care and treatment.

The DERC has the following specific objectives to accomplish these goals:

To provide biomedical core research support to Affiliate Investigators.
To develop new research methodologies and technologies and make these available to diabetes investigators.
To encourage, foster and support all stages of diabetes-related translational research.
To sponsor an enrichment program that informs and educates the diabetes community about new developments, stimulates interest in diabetes research among scientists in other disciplines, and increases interactions and collaboration among investigators.
To foster the development of new diabetes research at the University of Washington by conducting a small grant program. This program supports pilot and feasibility research in the area of diabetes by new investigators and provides a mechanism for established researchers in other disciplines to initiate projects in diabetes.
To support the career development of faculty and the training of postdoctoral fellows devoted to diabetes research.
To create an environment that serves as a vehicle for interdisciplinary collaborative diabetes research.
To serve as both a focal point and an umbrella for diabetes research in the greater Seattle area and as a national resource for diabetes researchers at other institutions.

The University of Washington DERC is supported by NIH NIDDK grant P30 DK-17047. Please cite this grant support in your publications if you have utilized DERC cores for the research.