Eli Lilly and Company and the William Sansum Diabetes Center (WSDC) have established a research collaboration to improve the lives of Latino people affected by diabetes through enhanced research, education and care.

"The tremendous burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease bears a disproportionate weight on Latino families in the United States," said David Kerr, M.D., FRCPE, director of Innovation and Research for the William Sansum Diabetes Center.  "This collaboration with Lilly will allow us to gain a better understanding of how we can help these families."

Dr. Kerr added that Latino people comprise 43% of the total population in Santa Barbara County, and rates of cardio-metabolic disease are persistently higher than in the rest of the population due to a combination of factors beyond biological risk, including economics, culture and education.

For Lilly, the collaboration will provide valuable insights into patients' unmet needs and aid in the development of interventions that could improve health outcomes for Latino people.

"This is a great opportunity for us to further understand the significant impact of diabetes for Latino families," said Dara Schuster, M.D., senior director of US Medical Affairs for Lilly Diabetes.  "Through this collaboration, we will learn where the gaps are so we can develop meaningful solutions for the unmet needs."

The William Sansum Diabetes Center has been on the cutting edge of diabetes research, clinical care, and education since its founding in 1944 by Dr. William Sansum, the first US physician to administer insulin in the treatment of diabetes. The Center has developed new technologies and produced groundbreaking diabetes treatments, such as the artificial pancreas automating delivery of insulin to patients and new protocols for the management of pregnancies complicated by diabetes. Today, the Center has international recognition for research and innovation in the creation, development, and application of novel and effective smart technologies. The Center is committed to developing effective approaches to the education of clinicians, people with diabetes and their families, and healthcare providers in partnership with academic institutions, specialist diabetes centers, and primary care colleagues.