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RIN Diabetes Receives the Certificate “Place of Progress”

The Regional Innovation Network (RIN) Diabetes of the DZD partner German Diabetes Center has been awarded the certificate “Place of Progress NRW 2016” by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia. At the RIN spring meeting, Svenja Schulze, Minister for Innovation, Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, presented the certificate to Prof. Dr. Michael Roden, scientific director and chairman of the board of the German Diabetes Center, and Dr. Olaf Spörkel, project leader of RIN Diabetes. “The DDZ and RIN Diabetes make an important contribution to reducing the incidence of diabetes in the region, to improving the quality of life of people with diabetes and to preventing late complications,” said Schulze. The state government of NRW selected 31 projects for the distinction in 2015 in order to make visible the qualitative progress “made in NRW”.

“Only through the joint efforts of initiatives like RIN Diabetes will it be possible in the future to counteract the public health and economic burdens of diseases such as diabetes,” said Prof. Michael Roden, scientific director and chairman of the board of the German Diabetes Center. For Dr. Olaf Spörkel, the project leader of RIN Diabetes, and his team, the certificate and the recognition associated with it are a great motivation: “We have many innovative ideas on how – together with our partners – we can improve the quality of life of people with diabetes and their families with our project.”
The RIN Diabetes Project was founded in 2014 at the German Diabetes Center as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary network. Currently more than 40 partners are participating in the project, including diabetologists in private practice, self-help groups, health insurance companies, pharmacies, associations, companies, hospitals and agencies. The aim of all partners is to reduce the incidence of diabetes in Dusseldorf and the surrounding area, to learn about new approaches to research and treatment options of the disease, to reduce the number of diabetes-related late complications such as nerve and organ damage and as a preventive measure, to raise awareness in children and youth for a balanced diet and sufficient exercise in everyday life.
As part of the project, the knowledge and competence platform http://rin-diabetes.de/created with the menu item Wegweiser (Guide). This shows all relevant offerings in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area for people with diabetes and the interested public. Doctors, counseling services, self-help groups and prevention offerings can be found at a glance.
The certificate "Place of Progress" is part of the research strategy "Progress NRW". The three ministries of Science, Economic Affairs and Urban Development confer it on institutions that combine economics, ecology and social engagement in an innovative way and thus enable progress for society. Projects are recognized that significantly improve people’s lives. 144 places applied for the distinction “Place of Progress 2015”, 31 were selected.

For more information, please visit:
http://rin-diabetes.de (German only)
www.fortschritt-gestalten.nrw.de (German only)
http://www.fortschritt-gestalten.nrw.de/