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DRC Director's Report - December 2018

As we come to the end of another successful year for the FOEDRC, I want to thank the FOE and my colleagues within the Diabetes Research Center for continuing to push the research boundaries to improve the lives of many who suffer from diabetes. On a personal note, I received a number of honors for my work this year including being asked to deliver the Presidential Lecture of the University of Iowa, receiving Fraternal Order of Eagles Humanitarian Award and the 2018 History Makers Award - the African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI). My receipt of this recognition is really a recognition of what you do and I consider myself very fortunate to lead such an outstanding organization. To close out the year I thought you might be interested in reading about some ways that our researchers are turning “fun and games” into a benefit for our patients with diabetes.

Help Us Help Paradise Eagles #2960

Earlier this month, Paradise Eagles Aerie #2960 was lost due to the devastating Camp wildfire that ravaged Northern California. Members of the Paradise Eagles have lost homes and other possessions and are just beginning the process of picking up the pieces and starting a new.

In recent weeks, Chico Eagles #218 has assisted by welcoming those without a home into their Aerie and providing them with meals each day and a safe place to lay their heads at night.

Eagles, Iowa Formalize Bridge To The Cure Project

On Tuesday, October 30, The Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) Board of Grand Trustees met with leadership from the University of Iowa to formalize the F.O.E.'s Bridge to the Cure project, which aims to translate research projects at the F.O.E. Diabetes Research Center into new medications to help alleviate the effects of diabetes.

With the new agreement, the F.O.E. Diabetes Research Center staff, led by Director Dr. E. Dale Abel, will form a committee, including one Eagles member, to recommend research projects for trial drug testing. Once a recommendation is made, it will be passed along to the F.O.E.'s Board of Grand Trustees, who will determine whether or not to issue a grant from the F.O.E. Diabetes Research Center Fund to facilitate the trials. 

DRC Director's Report - November 2018

We have known for a very long time that obesity is associated with many cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease (where liver stores fat in large lipid droplets), coronary artery disease, heart failure, and many more chronic diseases are all linked to obesity.

October 2018 Diabetes Research Center Update

Ryan Boudreau, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Internal Medicine and a member of the FOEDRC recently discovered a new protein-coding gene in the human genome  that regulates mitochondria. These studies were simultaneously published in the Journal Cell Reports at the same time as a study from a laboratory at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center that made a similar discovery.

GWP Burnett Fills Grand Aerie Officer Vacancy

Due to the unfortunate passing of Grand Trustee John Noldan, a vacancy was left in the Grand Aerie officer positions. To fill this vacancy, Grand Worthy President Carl Burnett, in concurrence with the Board of Grand Trustees, has made the direction to move all current sitting officers beneath the vacancy, up one position and to fill the vacancy at Grand Outside Guard with William “Bill” Stotko of Everett, Wash., Aerie #13.

Food Allergy Linked To Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

Our Diabetes Center faculty are leaders in diabetes research but occasionally their research leads them to some other areas that are of broad societal interest. This is exemplified by the work of FOEDRC member Dr. Wei Bao MD Ph.D., who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, of the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health.

Grand Trustee John Noldan Passes Away

Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Grand Trustee John Noldan, 66, of pancreatic cancer. 

John was a proud and dedicated Eagle, firmly committed to upholding the Ritual and serving the Fraternal Order of Eagles in every way he could. He is survived by his loving wife, Kat, four children and nine grandchildren. 

Woodland Aerie #3782 Hosts 2018 International Golf Tournament

The 2018 International Golf Tournament has concluded and we want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in this year’s amazing event.

On August 18-19, Woodland Aerie #3782 in Hastings, Mich., hosted the 2018 International Golf Tournament at The Legacy at Hastings Golf Course. 

Targeting Mitochondrial Fission for Neuroprotection in Diabetic Neuropathy

Drs. Stefan Strack and Yuriy Usachev Professors of Pharmacology and members of the FOEDRC recently received a new grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institutes of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) entitled “Targeting mitochondrial fission for neuroprotection in diabetic neuropathy” for a total award of $1,702,888 over four years.