Fla. Healthcare Players Embark on Diabetes Project

ORLANDO, Fla. With diabetes afflicting more than 24 million Americans and that number growing every day, Florida Hospital and the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute are partnering to create the Florida Hospital-Sanford Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI) to develop new therapies for the disease.

Designed by Flad Architects, the 54,000-square-foot translational research facility will focus on the study of diabetes, obesity, and the metabolic origins of cardiovascular disease with the aim of more quickly developing patient treatments based on scientific discoveries made at the facility.

This can help to make great strides in establishing the causes of diabetes going forward, especially when it concerns cardiovascular disease. Many people may not know this, but the link between diabetes and cardiac arrest exists, and can actually be significant in causing people to suffer from a fatal heart attack. Unfortunately, it is not yet known why there is such a substantial link between these two factors, but with the introduction of this facility, researchers could soon receive the answers they’ve been looking for.

Expected to be completed by the end of the year, the new research facility will be a landmark building for Florida Hospital and the signature building in its new Health Village in Orlando.

Flad Architects specializes in the planning and design of healthcare, higher education, science and technology facilities. With headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, and offices throughout the United States, Flads work with knowledge-based organizations is recognized throughout the country.

The TRI will bring scientists, clinicians, and the procedures necessary to facilitate translational research together under one roof. The three-story building will contain clinic space, testing rooms, medical imaging, a biorepository, chemistry laboratories, exam rooms, overnight observation rooms and advanced technologies to develop personalized treatments.

We are witnessing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States. Current statistics show that two-thirds of all Americans are overweight and obese and 1 in 12 has some form of diabetes, said Dr. Steven Smith, scientific director of the TRI. Some are taking control of this, using Leanbean weight loss supplement to help them out, but even so these staggering statistics call for decisive action and that includes innovative research.