Funding to study diabetes in Indian Americans

Friday, 21 February 2003, 20:30 IST
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WASHINGTON: The largest organisation of Indian American doctors has secured funding worth $500,000 to study and treat cardiovascular diseases and the high rate of diabetes in the community. The funds were made available to the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) through the omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2003. Maryland Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer and New Jersey Democrat Rep. Frank Pallone made the appropriation requests. Congratulating AAPI on the achievement Rep. Joe Wilson said in a statement here: "This is great news for the Asian Indian community in the U.S., as they are among the top groups at risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes." Wilson, who is the new co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said: "I was very pleased that Congressmen Hoyer and Pallone's requests were honoured through this funding." The proposed research project of 3,000 individuals across randomly selected American cities aims to gain insight into the disease process and create successful interventions. The three-year study will be performed by the AAPI, which is made up of 9,000 members, a constituency of 35,000 physicians, and 10,000 medical students and residents. In September, Congressman Wilson sent a letter to chairman Ralph Regula of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education asking the House Committee on Appropriations to fund the project.
Source: IANS