Harvard Medical School affiliates join in building leading-edge programs for diabetes care, management and research

BOSTON – December 21, 2010 – Joslin Diabetes Center and two other Harvard Medical School affiliates have launched a five-year strategic alliance with the Dasman Diabetes Institute for establishing a comprehensive and innovative program for diabetes care, management and research across Kuwait.

Dasman is an independent, not-for-profit institute, founded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science. Led by Director General Kazem Behbehani, Ph.D., the Institute is respected world-wide for its well-organized efforts to combine world-class expertise with effective social outreach in Kuwait.

On the Harvard side, the agreement includes Joslin, the Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Shapiro Institute for Education and Research. The three organizations signed a pre-implementation agreement with Dasman last spring. 

“While the scourge of chronic disease is on the rise in Kuwait, the Dasman Institute is ushering in a new era of open, interactive collaboration with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science, the Ministry of Health and the Faculties of Health Sciences at Kuwait University,” said Dr. Behbehani. “We will work in very close collaboration with our partners at Joslin and other Harvard affiliates, with their unsurpassed medical expertise.”

The comprehensive five-year agreement includes:

 *   Specialty and primary care clinical programs
 *   Clinical, basic and translational research
 *   Education for healthcare professionals and patients
 *   Clinical data management

"The Dasman Institute will provide Kuwait and the region as well as the United States with a unique and powerful vehicle for joint learning and innovation,” said Antoine Kaldany, M.D., Director of International Programs at Joslin. “Joslin and the other Harvard affiliates are joining with Dasman to create a landmark partnership of equals.”

“Leveraging Joslin’s leadership in diabetes research and care, together we are building a customized, robust, state-of-the-art interactive platform for collaboration and transfer of critical know-how about the disease,” added Judy Goodwin, Joslin’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives.

About the Dasman Diabetes Institute

The mission of the Dasman Diabetes Institute is to be one of the leading comprehensive research and treatment facilities in its field and to contribute to the improvement of the health of future generations in Kuwait and the Middle East as a whole. The Institute is achieving this by conducting research into diabetes to find better treatment modalities and possible solutions to slow down the spread of the disease in Kuwait and in the Middle East. In addition, by spreading awareness about diabetes within the community, the Institute encourages early diagnosis or prevention of the disease. The Institute also provides specialized training opportunities for health professionals treating people with diabetes.