This week, the Trump Administration abruptly cancelled all National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS). The loss of this ongoing research, which is being conducted at 30 institutions in 21 states, will impact tens of millions of people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes across the country. On March 19, the Endocrine Society issued a press release to the media and all congressional offices calling for restoration of this important program.
The DPP, which started in 1996, found that lifestyle changes or taking the medication Metformin could prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in people at risk of developing the condition and demonstrated that a 5-7% weight loss lowered the risk of developing diabetes by 58%. The DPP Outcomes Study is the long-term follow-up study of the DPP cohort and is currently studying Alzheimer's disease and dementia, in addition to continuing to study the long-term effects of diabetes prevention on other health conditions such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, nerve damage, kidney disease, and eye disease.
The research funded by DPP provides an important source of long-term information on diabetes prevention. Preventing and delaying the onset of diabetes can help reduce other chronic conditions, such as heart and kidney disease, and control health care costs. The Society will continue to advocate for Congress and the Administration to restore this funding, but we need your help. Because the funding cut is tied to a dispute with one university, many congressional offices do not understand that the bulk of the funding is spread across 29 institutions in 21 states. Consequently, Every Senator and Representative needs to hear from their constituents that it is critical this program is restored immediately. Join us by taking action in our online campaign.
The Endocrine Society’s Clinical Affairs Core Committee will host the third annual Endocrine Mentor Day (eMD) at ENDO 2025 in San Francisco. The event will take place on Sunday, July 13. During the event, medical students and residents will be paired with an Endocrine Society member as their “mentor” for the day. Mentors will guide attendees around ENDO and introduce them to ENDO’s signature programs, including poster presentations, Meet the Professor sessions, and the ENDOExpo hall. The event has been a big success in the past two years due in large part to our terrific mentors. If you are interested in joining us for this program as a mentor, please email Ellie Cliff at [email protected].
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your US representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.
