Darlene Berryman, Ph.D., R.D., was appointed director of The Diabetes Institute at Ohio University, the first initiative of the Ohio University Health Sciences Center. The Institute was created to bring together the many diabetes-related programs throughout the university in an effort to best address one of the most critical health-care issues facing Americans.

“It is an exciting time to be involved in the study of diabetes at Ohio University,” Berryman said. “In the past we developed a number of initiatives in research, clinical services, and educational programming. Now these initiatives are housed under one unit enhancing the synergy we have developed to address this devastating disease.”

The newly named institute will assume and build upon several existing initiatives including the Diabetes Research Initiative, the Diabetes Coalition and the clinical services, provided through the Diabetes Endocrine Center, a clinic for diabetes patient care located on the O’Bleness Hospital campus in Athens, Ohio. The Institute will expand opportunities for further development of diabetes research, clinical care, education and community outreach.

Berryman has a dual appointment with both the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) and the College of Health Sciences and Professions. In addition to her directorship responsibilities, she will continue her obesity research at the Edison Biotechnology Institute and as associate professor of food and nutrition and continue to oversee the Diabetes Certificate Program.

“This is a very exciting and transformational time at OU-HCOM.” said OU-HCOM Dean Kenneth Johnson. “Our focus in education is on primary care and inter-disciplinary education. Our focus in research is on those areas that are the most prevalent in human suffering. The Diabetes Institute is a place for us that coalesces our focuses and strategies in the best manner possible.”

Funding for The Diabetes Institute comes in part from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations’ gift of $105 million to OU-HCOM last year. It will provide for additional faculty focused on basic and translational diabetes research, support a new diabetes clinical care and research center and the staffing of that facility with diabetologists, endocrinologist and other specialists who treat diabetes-related complications.

For more information, visit http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/communications/News/BerrymanDiabetesInstitute/index.htm