Newsroom
Press Release Archive
Press Releases & News

Former DRI Fellow Appointed to First Tenured Professorship in Regenerative Medicine at the University of Dresden, Germany
Miami, FL (May 13, 2009) - Mathias D. Brendel, M.D., Ph.D., is one of the pioneers in islet cell transplantation and the regenerative treatment strategies for diabetes. He completed his fellowship at the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller...

Subway Restaurants to Test First of its Kind Diabetes Friendlier Menu
Menu to be offered throughout the Kansas City market ONLY starting in December 2009 Kansas City (December 15, 2009) – SUBWAY® Restaurants in the Kansas City market will soon be the first quick service restaurant in history to launch a Diabetes Friendlier Menu. The...

American Soldier Severely Wounded in Afghanistan Receives Historic Islet Cell Transplant
**The Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation were terribly saddened to learn of the passing of Tre Porfirio on November 28, 2010. He was a true hero. Diabetes Research Institute aids in unprecedented procedure on Thanksgiving Dr. Craig Shriver, chief of general...

In Memory of a Dear Friend, Micki Mele
Mele (formerly Kronowitt) was the first president of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation nearly 40 years ago December 2009 – With great sadness, the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation mourns the loss of Micki Mele, one of the founding members of the...

DRI’s Scientific Director Knighted by the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Marco Rocca, Consul General of Italy, knighted Dr. Camillo Ricordi in a ceremony on November 24. Miami (November 25, 2009) - Camillo Ricordi, M.D., the Stacy Joy Goodman Professor of Surgery, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, and Scientific Director of the Diabetes...

DRI Receives $3 Million Gift from Helmsley Charitable Trust
David Panzirer holds tight to his youngest child, Luke. The shirt says it all! Miami, FL (November 19, 2009) – The Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, received a $3 million gift recently...

Phillies Star Rookie Pitcher J.A. Happ Wins MLB Players Choice Award, Designates DRI as Charity of Choice
J.A. Happ and his sister, Heather Happ (October 27, 2009) As Philadelphia Phillies’ rookie pitcher J.A. Happ heads to the World Series tomorrow, he’s also bringing with him the title of Players Choice National League Outstanding Rookie. Yesterday, when Happ accepted...

Back to School with Diabetes
Education is key to managing diabetes at school! Hollywood, FL (September 2009) - School can be difficult for any child, but adding diabetes to the picture can make it even harder. Understandably, many parents are fearful about leaving their child in the care of...

DRI’s Dr. Bendala Authors Book Pancreatic Stem Cells
The DRI’s Juan Dominguez-Bendala, Ph.D., director of stem cell development for translational research, recently authored a book, titled “Pancreatic Stem Cells,” published by Humana Press. The book aims to provide a broad overview of an intriguing model of...

DRI Aims to Improve and Standardize Islet Isolation for Clinical Transplantation
Miami, FL -- September, 2009 -- The University of Miami’s Islet Cell Resource Center (ICR), which is funded by the NIH’s National Center for Research Resources, has fulfilled its mission for the past eight years by providing islets of excellent quality for clinical...

Using Insulin Therapy? The Top Six Things You Should Know!
Provided by: Kellie Rodriguez 1. Know the actions of your insulin(s)Knowing the onset of action, the peak action and duration of action of the insulin(s) that you use to treat your diabetes will help you to know when and how to use your insulin(s) to optimize your...

Small Molecules Show Potential for Therapeutic Drugs
Computer models predict newly identified small molecules bind to specific regions (zones) on the surface of the CD154 molecule (blue corresponds to more positively charged- and red to more negatively charged portions) known to be critical in activating the immune...

Sports Agent Drew Rosenhaus Garners Donation for DRI Foundation
Hollywood, FL (July, 2009) -- Throughout the summer, renowned football agent Drew Rosenhaus will appear in two TV commercials and three radio ads promoting the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. In return, the Panthers will donate $5,000 to Rosenhaus’...

Walgreens of South Florida and the DRIF Join to Cure Diabetes Now
Anita Geraci and Susie MacLean of store #2443 in Hollywood, FL, proudly wear their "Cure Diabetes Now" buttons. Hollywood, FL (June 22, 2009) – Walgreens of South Florida and the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation have teamed up in an effort to help cure diabetes...

Brenda Novak’s 5th Annual Event Raises Record $270,000 for the Diabetes Research Institute
Brenda Novak and her husband, Ted, present a check to DRIF President and CEO Robert A. Pearlman and DRI Scientific Director Dr. Camillo Ricordi. Hollywood, FL (June 16, 2009) –- It’s said records are made to be broken, and for New York Times best selling author Brenda...

Baseball’s Willie Randolph and Rob Dromerhauser Tour DRI
Rob and Mary Dromerhauser, Willie Randolph, Connor Dromerhauser, Robert A. Pearlman and Tom Karlya Miami, FL (June, 2009) -- While the Milwaukee Brewers were in town to face the Florida Marlins, one of the Brewers' coaches, Willie Randolph, took time to pay a special...

Boca Raton Couple Go Above and Beyond to Help the DRI Find a Cure for Their Son
Hollywood, FL (June, 2009) -- Ellen and Jeffry Ullman are seemingly the neighbors next door – Boca Raton residents married for 22 years, and dedicated parents of two college-age young adults, Zachary and Sasha. Jeffry’s a 25-year...

Calles Secures Grant for DRI
Acting on behalf of the MDRT Foundation, Juan Elias Calles, CLU, ChFC, presented a grant to William J. Rand, M.D., to support the cure-focused work underway at the DRI. Miami, FL (June 2009) -- Coral Gables resident Juan Elias Calles, CLU, ChFC, of Union Central Life...

DRI Foundation Earns Top Rating from Charity Navigator For Third Straight Year
Hollywood, FL (May 19, 2009) -- For the third consecutive year, the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) has earned the highest rating available from the nation's largest independent evaluator of charities. Charity Navigator has awarded its coveted four-star...

Manhattan Beach Teen Gets Surprise of Her Life: Meeting Nick Jonas
New York, NY (May, 2009) -- Rachel Humphrey, a Manhattan Beach, CA, teenager with type 1 diabetes, was granted her biggest wish -- (well, almost) -- when she came face to face with her hero, Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. Rachel, 13, was selected to...

Effective Communications Reaps Rewards for Parents and Kids with Diabetes
What would you say if your child with diabetes told you there is no way he will wear his diabetes alert bracelet in public? Miami, FL (May 2009) -- The skills involved in diabetes care are the same skills used to make a marriage work or to raise a healthy family....

A Jonas Brothers Dream Come True
Miami, FL (May 2009) -- Do you want tickets to the SOLD-OUT Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009 concert at BankAtlantic Center in South Florida? And, VIP access to the sound check? ...Bet you do!!! This is your chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Imagine winning...

Former Miss America Nicole Johnson Tours the Diabetes Reserach Institute
Former Miss America Nicole Johson toured the Diabetes Research Institute in Miami and got a first-hand look at the cure-focused research underway. Here she is with DRI Scientific Director Dr. Camillo Ricordi. Miami, FL (April, 2009) -- Ever since Nicole...

Several Local communitites Unite at Walk-A-Thon to Benefit the Diabetes Research Institute
Zachary Treese was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 3 years old. Duncansville, PA (April 2009) -- Team Zachary. That’s what they call themselves – the more than 30 family members and close friends of 5-year-old Zachary Treese, who was diagnosed...

Supermodel Izabel Goulart Partners with Diabetes Research Institute Foundation as International Ambassador
On her tour of the Diabetes Research Institute, Izabel met Dr. Cherie Stabler, head of the tissue engineering program. Miami, FL (March 24, 2009) —- Brazilian supermodel Izabel Goulart today announced she will serve as the International Ambassador for the Diabetes...

NY Times Best Selling Author Gives Annual Mother’s Day Gift of Hope to Diabetic Son and Others
Brenda Novak with her son, Thad, who has type 1 diabetes. Hollywood, FL (March 2009) -– For New York Times best selling author and mother of five Brenda Novak, Mother’s Day isn’t about breakfast in bed or a special family gathering to celebrate her status as a mom....

DRI Hails Decision to Lift Federal Stem Cell Restrictions
Miami, FL (March 9, 2009) -- Calling it “excellent news,” scientists at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) are hailing President Obama’s executive order which overturns federal limits on embryonic stem cell research. “This decision is excellent news, particularly...

DRI Researchers to Present Findings at Major International Conferences
Learn more about the American Transplant Congress 2009. Miami, FL (February, 2009) -- Scientists from the Diabetes Research Institute will report on their latest research findings in key cell therapies aimed at reversing diabetes at two prestigious international...

DRI Researchers to Present Findings at International Cell Transplant Congress
Miami, FL (February 2009) -– DRI scientists will be presenting information about a revolutionary technique to advance diabetes research at the 10th International Cell Transplant Congress in Japan in April. For the first time, scientists can view how transplanted...

Olympian Gary Hall Jr. Tapped as Spokesman for New Study on Benefits of Exercise on Autoimmune Diseases
Miami, FL (January 12, 2009) -- Diabetes Research Institute Foundation board member and Olympic champion Gary Hall, Jr. will serve as the spokesman for a new international initiative that will explore the potential benefits of physical exercise on autoimmune...

UM Diabetes Researchers Testing Stem Cells and Oxygen Therapy
Miami, FL (January 9, 2009) -- The growing epidemic of diabetes in the United States is making it crucial for scientists to find new ways to treat the debilitating disease and its numerous complications. Researchers at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the...