D Cure - Diabetes Care in Israel

D Cure is a unique organization, bringing together members of Israel’s scientific, medical and
support communities to advance diabetes research, care and education through the creation in
Israel of a “Virtual Diabetes Research Center”. All of Israel's leading diabetes research
institutions – including Weizmann Institute, Technion, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew
University, Tel-Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University and Bar-Ilan University – are encouraged
to work together to accelerate the finding of a cure through D-Cure’s centralized and coordinated
efforts. D-Cure hopes to accelerate the finding of a cure and to improve the quality of life for those
suffering from diabetes and its complications by:

1. Funding and coordinating inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary research in areas in which
Israel already has a leading edge.
2. Developing and implementing novel approaches to patient care.
3. Promulgating updated treatment techniques to the general doctor and diabetologist community
in a timely and efficient manner.
4. Influencing public policy to better understand the cost effectiveness and healthier outcome
of early intervention for delay and prevention of diabetes onset.

Israel is pioneering many areas of diabetes research, including human embryonic stem cell
and cell therapy research, immunotherapy, and research of genetic factors for diabetes, obesity
and related complications. In particular, Israeli scientists are spearheading progress in insulin-
producing human embryonic stem cell derived pancreatic beta cells for transplantation, a potential
cure for diabetes. Israel is at the vanguard of many scientific disciplines, such as cell therapy,
gene therapy immunology, and molecular and cell biology. In the field of biotechnology, Israeli
pharmaceutical companies have been involved in multiple developments of in vivo glucose
sensors. In addition, the cost of research professionals in Israel is significantly lower than that
of the United States.

With a generous grant from the Russell Berrie Foundation, D-Cure has been very active in its first
year. We have launched 31 new peer-reviewed research projects. We are promoting what is to be
the second internationally-attended Diabetes Conference in September 2005 in Jerusalem.
We are also establishing fellowships and collaborations with major US diabetes research and
treatment centers, seedbeds of potential breakthroughs to carry the diabetes leadership torch
into the future. Discussions with the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical
Center, the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, Albert Einstein College
of Medicine and the JDRF are all underway, as we define the best ways to leverage the
complementary strengths of each institution.

To enhance our effectiveness we are strengthening the infrastructure for research by developing
comprehensive career development programs. These are designed to encourage talented young
diabetes scientists and clinicians from within Israel and abroad, to pursue their careers in the field
of diabetes in Israel. Professional mentoring, financial security and a defined career development
plan are part of the offerings.

Much more is possible and will follow. We hope you will join us in our efforts to transform
this quest into a reality.

D Cure Presentation