TRADITION, MISS– The National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute (NDORI) announced an affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute designed to enhance diabetes- and obesity-related research, discover better treatment protocols, and, ultimately, cultivate a healthier Mississippi and nation on Thursday.
The affiliation combines the academic, clinical and research components of the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute with the newly formed diabetes and research institute. The Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute is ranked No. 3 in the nation for diabetes care by U.S. News & World Report.
NDORI, affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, will open a facility in Tradition.
“I am delighted to announce this groundbreaking affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute. Their extensive expertise in diabetes, obesity, and endocrinology research is an essential element in establishing NDORI as the preeminent diabetes and obesity research center in the United States,” said Phil Bryant, Governor of the State of Mississippi. “Diabetes and prediabetes affects over one million people in the state of Mississippi, almost a third of our population, so there is no greater place to conduct this groundbreaking research.”
The benefits of the affiliation will spread far beyond Tradition.
“The hope is that the National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute will help find a cure and enhance healthcare, not only in Mississippi but across the United States,” said Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves. “Improving the health and well-being of our citizens afflicted by diabetes also makes good fiscal policy for the state as healthcare programs are hit by related costs. With this new research, better protocols and treatments, we can reduce this number and improve our overall healthcare system.”
The National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute (NDORI) is the vision of real estate developer and philanthropist Joseph C. Canizaro. Mr. Canizaro’s passion for diabetes research and drive to find a cure comes from his personal experience with type-2 diabetes.
NDORI will be part of a 150-acre learning medical city located in the Tradition community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and will be modeled after successful research centers at the heart of communities that are anchored by healthcare and educational organizations.
NDORI will work closely with a core team of Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute experts, led by Richard Shewbridge, M.D., an endocrinologist and the executive medical director for this affiliation.
“Thanks to this affiliation, NDORI and the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute will join forces to advance diabetes research and fight diabetes,” said Dr. Shewbridge. “We will focus on four strategic areas: diabetes and obesity research, diabetes and obesity clinical care, patient and provider education, and an outcomes and research database.”
James Young, M.D., a cardiologist and chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute said, “With this affiliation, NDORI and the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute will compare different approaches in various locations, including Mississippi, the Gulf Coast, and Ohio. This is an exciting opportunity to further our mission of finding better approaches to managing the scourge of diabetes and obesity in America.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes – that’s about 1 out of every 11 people nationwide. The American Diabetes Association (ADA)estimates that 15.4 percent of the population in Mississippi has diabetes. And, about 13.5 percent of the population in Ohio has diabetes.
Once the affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute is fully implemented, the patients of NDORI will enjoy greater access to best practices related to diabetes and obesity treatment. Leading Mississippi healthcare systems, such as Memorial Hospital and Coastal Family Health Centers,William Carey University’s nursing and medical related programs, as well as the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will have an opportunity to access NDORI’s resources via an affiliate program.
In the future, NDORI would like to expand its scope of work beyond the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the rest of the state and the nation, including rural areas where multiple underserved or uninsured individuals are affected by diabetes.
