FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Kaptur Announces Over $1 Million in Research Awards to UToledo for Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and Diabetic Kidney DiseasesPress ReleaseJobs and the[...]

Toledo, OH - Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced that the University of Toledo will receive two separate grants from the Department of Health and Human Services to fund life-saving medical research. The first is $339,900 through the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to support research into the GSK3Beta enzyme, which accelerates the progression of diabetes and kidney diseases. The second award is for a total of $736,899 through the National Institute on Aging to research kinome networks in Alzheimer's dementia. These diseases affect nearly one third of the US population, including thousands across our region of Northwest Ohio. Congresswoman Kaptur has long advocated for advanced research and programs like these to address widespread health concerns.

"Those with Alzheimer's, diabetes, and diabetic kidney diseases, as well as their family, friends, and loved ones, face many challenges," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). "If preventative measures exist, we must equip our medical field with the necessary resources to advance research and further medical understanding. These Federal funding awards demonstrate the University of Toledo's dedication and commitment to conducting research that advances medical understanding toward new treatments and cures. I am proud to help secure these resources for our R1 Research Institution at UToledo, which allows our Northwest Ohio region to shine as a beacon of innovation and hope."

"We are grateful for this support from the National Institutes of Health. Diabetic kidney disease remains one of the leading causes of kidney failure worldwide, affecting millions of patients and families," said Professor Gong Rujun, Ph.D., M.D., F.A.S.N. "We are proud to conduct this important research at The University of Toledo and contribute to improving health in our region and beyond."

"Alzheimer's dementia is one of the most significant challenges facing our aging population, impacting patients, caregivers, families, and communities," said Robert Smith, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.N.P., Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. "Continued investment in biomedical research is essential to advancing scientific discovery and bringing hope to those affected by this devastating disease."

Professor Gong Rujun, Ph.D., M.D., F.A.S.N., a research expert and academic focused on the progression of kidney diseases and discovering novel therapies, leads research at the University of Toledo's Health Science Campus on diabetic kidney disease and glomerulonephritis. As a result of his scientific achievements, he has received federal funds for a variety of research opportunities from the National Institute for Health over the past five years and has published many influential, peer-reviewed articles and holds several patents.

Robert Smith, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.N.P., currently serves as the Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Psychiatry in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Toledo. The award will help continue his team's research on how active kinome networks contribute to the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's dementia as they seek to develop new therapies and treatments for this devastating disease.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Kaptur has been instrumental in delivering federal support to University of Toledo research efforts. UToledo was recently recognized with as an R1, top-tier university for Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

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