MedStar Researcher Awarded Funds Through Diabetes Research Grant

Hyattsville, MD — Kenneth L Fan, MD, has been awarded funding through the MedStar Diabetes Research Grant to research patient-reported outcome measures for patients who undergo lower limb amputation to treat issues caused by diabetes.

The goal of the MedStar Diabetes Research Grant is to support investigators in the field of diabetes research who are interested in developing pilot data that can lead to additional, externally funded studies. This funding opportunity for MedStar investigators interested in diabetes research was made possible by a generous donation to MedStar Health.

Diabetic lower extremity disease has surpassed diabetic coma as the primary driver of mortality among people with diabetes. The research study funded, “Examination of Functional, Morbidity, and Mortality Outcomes of Surgical Modalities in Diabetic Limb Salvage”, will begin by seeking to compare national averages for patient outcomes to those treated as a multidisciplinary center. The study will then leverage patient-reported outcome measures to compare patient feedback to surgical outcomes, such as ambulatory status. Using that information, patients undergoing surgery will be surveyed both before and after, to determine if preoperative patient-reported outcome measures scores may predict how well patients will tolerate certain procedures.

“This generous donation to diabetes research at MedStar Health allows us to support investigators who are focused on finding better ways to treat our patients with diabetes,” said Neil Weissman, MD, chief scientific officer for MedStar Health and president of MedStar Health Research Institute. “Our mission of advancing health for our community allows us to leverage our multidisciplinary focus to provide better outcomes for future patients.”

This research will be led by Dr. Fan, in collaboration with Karen K. Evans, MD; Christopher E. Attinger, MD; David H. Song, MD; and Derek Delia, PhD.

About MedStar Health Research Institute

The MedStar Health Research Institute is the research arm of MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. MHRI provides scientific, administrative and regulatory support for research programs throughout the MedStar Health system. MHRI’s expertise includes translational research into disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. These programs complement the key clinical services and teaching programs in the 10 MedStar hospitals and other MedStar entities. For more information, visit www.MedStarResearch.org. 

About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.