….and the answer is, who is Camillo Ricordi.
There is no argument that there is much great research happening in the world today and surely, all of us parents, are unified in the single thought that we want the cure; yesterday. Dr. Ricordi made the decision years ago that it was not important that HE necessarily be the one to find the cure—-but to just find the cure. He has knocked down the academic walls around the world to share information in the common goal to find a biological cure.
The Diabetes Research Institute is unique in the fact that their collaboration is known throughout the world. There can clearly be discussions about research and who is doing what; what is an accepted fact is that Dr. Ricordi’s team approach worldwide in sharing information to find a cure is unique in both their approach and collaborative effort. His team’s recent discovery of the BioHub has attracted scientists from all around the world with the unified goal to fast track this approach to get it to the patient.
Will it happen tomorrow or next year? No, it won’t. But opening the doors of the DRI wide open to accepting any scientific approach to make this happen in the fastest possible means is not only unique; it’s refreshing.
(fair disclosure, I work at the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation; my personal disclosure, I choose to work there because IN MY OPINION I know of no other place like the DRI which consists of all phases of research in one building with a collaborate worldwide philosophy to end diabetes forever; in a TEAM approach led by this incredibly talented man.)
Just some of Dr. Ricordi’s Bio from the DRI Site:
Camillo Ricordi, M.D. is the Stacy Joy Goodman Professor of Surgery, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Microbiology and Immunology, and serves as Scientific Director and Chief Academic Officer of the University of Miami Diabetes Research Institute. At the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Ricordi also serves as Chief of the Division of Cellular Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Director of the Diabetes Research Institute Cell Transplant Center and Responsible Head of the cGMP Human Cell Processing Facility, an NIH funded cGMP facility that has been providing Human Cell Products for research and clinical applications at UM, in Florida and across state barriers since 1993.
Dr. Ricordi serves as President of the Cure Focus Research Alliance and Chaiman of the Diabetes Research Institute Federation, coordinating and promoting cure focused research at over 24 leading institutions worldwide, while further developing the telescience platform technology to eliminate geographic barriers to scientific collaboration. These initiatives now allow scientists and project teams from around the world to synergize efforts and work together like if they are in the same physical space.
Dr. Ricordi has authored over 600 scientific publications, and as an inventor, he has been awarded 11 patents.
For Diabetes Awareness Month:
This month, I will be highlighting someone in the diabetes community. They may be people you know, or might not know, but they give of themselves to make this world, our world, with diabetes a special place. I will not get to everyone this month, but it is my hope that perhaps you can be introduced to some of those you may not know.
I’m certainly not the definitive on who should be included….you are. If you think I should include someone, shoot me an email at tkarlya@drif.org and I will do what I can to include that person as well. Welcome to diabetes awareness month.
I am a diabetes dad.
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