[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DR. CAMILIO RICORDI AND DR. NORMA KENYON DISCOVER A POTENTIAL CURE FOR 
                                DIABETES

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                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 1999

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to commend Dr. 
Camilo Ricordi and Dr. Norma Kenyon for their exceptional work in the 
field of medical research. Through ongoing study at the University of 
Miami, these two doctors have brought the medical world one step closer 
to finding a cure for diabetes.
  Dr. Ricordi and Dr. Kenyon recently reported on the experiments which 
they have been conducting involving anti-CD154. This artificially made 
antibody has succeeded in curing monkeys from potentially fatal cases 
of diabetes. Such drugs will replace the more harmful and less 
successful versions which are presently being used. This will allow 
patients with the most dangerous forms of diabetes to lead a normal, 
healthy life without depending on needles and insulin.
  It is only through their hard work and dedication to improving the 
lives of diabetics that Dr. Ricordi and Dr. Kenyon's have made such 
strides in finding a cure to a debilitating disease. The full report is 
expected to be published later this year in the Proceedings of the 
National Academy of Sciences.
  I ask that my Congressional colleagues join me in congratulating the 
incredible achievement in medical research of Dr. Ricordi and Dr. 
Kenyon of the University of Miami.

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