JDRF hosts Diabetes Research Symposium to focus on type 1 diabetes

For the second consecutive year in Montreal, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF) Diabetes Research Symposium will be opening its doors at Fairmont Queen Elizabeth this Sunday, March 21st, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free and open to all, this event will focus on type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, and aims to inform the general public about JDRF's groundbreaking research progress.

JDRF's Chief Research Advisor, Dr. Terry Delovitch, will give an overview of JDRF-funded research across Canada, with an emphasis on local JDRF-funded researchers, such as the RFX6 gene discovery made by MUHC's Dr. Constantin Polychronakos, the recent breakthrough made by Dr. Sylvie Lesage of Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, which could help prevent type 1 diabetes entirely and the new artificial pancreas project. Dr. Jean-Louis Brazier will brief the audience on diabetes management and natural health products, while Dr. Ciriaco Piccirillo will give an account of the integration of genetics with markers of immune response.

"With the advent of several recent advances in technology and significantly increased funding, JDRF is well-positioned to continue funding world class research in Canada and take even greater strides towards building a bridge to the cure for type 1 diabetes" says Dr. Terry Delovitch, Full Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario).

WHAT: JDRF's Diabetes Research Symposium WHEN: Sunday March 21st, 2010 TIME: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. LOCATION: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth 900 Rene-Levesque Blvd. West, Montreal WHO: Dr. Terry Delovitch, Ph.D. JDRF-funded research progress across Canada and the new artificial pancreas project at University of Waterloo Full Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology University of Western Ontario Dr. Jean-Louis Brazier, Ph.D. Diabetes and natural health products Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy Université de Montréal Dr. Ciriaco Piccirillo, Ph.D. Integrating genetics with markers of immune response Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology McGill University

The Diabetes Research Symposium is a unique occasion for participants to meet with others living with type 1 diabetes, to engage guest speakers during the Q&A period and receive information from exhibitors. Participants will also be able to obtain their fundraising kits for the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes, one of JDRF's powerful fundraising events. Dynamix will also be on site to supervise the children's activities.