[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 144 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H10616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI RESEARCH TEAM MAKING STRIDES IN FINDING A CURE FOR 
                                DIABETES

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, what do Halle Berry, Mary Tyler Moore, 
Miss America, and another 16 million Americans have in common? 
Diabetes.
  In the last 40 years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number 
of Americans with diabetes, and this year 200,000 will lose their lives 
to this disease, making it the sixth leading cause of death. In fact, 
this disease has grown so much that the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention have labeled diabetes as the epidemic of our time.
  While much work and research remains to be done in this field, 
scientists at the University of Miami are making gigantic strides that 
may very well soon lead to a cure. Dr. Camilo Ricordi and Dr. Norma 
Kenyon are conducting exceptional work in the field of medical 
research. Their current work studies with anti-CD154, an artificial 
antibody, has succeeded in curing monkeys from potentially fatal causes 
of diabetes. Further progress will soon replace harmful and less 
effective drugs, and may allow some diabetic patients to lead normal, 
healthy lives without depending on needles and insulin.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the championship research team at the 
University of Miami.

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