On 5 September 2017, the Board of Directors of the Novo Nordisk Foundation approved grants of DKK 1.4 billion to the Region of Southern Denmark and DKK 1.4 billion to the Central Denmark Region to strengthen the diabetes initiatives in these two administrative regions by establishing Steno Diabetes Centers in both Odense and Aarhus.
The Foundation awarded the grants based on detailed project plans for establishing and operating the two Centers approved by broad political majorities in the respective regional councils of the regions.
“The Novo Nordisk Foundation’s ambition is that Denmark can offer the world’s best research-based treatment for diabetes. The establishment of the Centers will strengthen the framework for improving patient-centred treatment and preventing late complications. The Centers will also strengthen research, education and intersectoral collaboration. The goals are that the people who have diabetes can live longer with a better quality of life and that fewer Danes develop diabetes,” says Sten Scheibye, Chairman of the Board, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
The project plans were prepared in a process involving health professionals, the hospitals in each region, patients and other sectors in each region.
Stephanie Lose (Venstre), President of the Southern Denmark Regional Council, says: “We are very pleased about the opportunities this grant will provide to the Region of Southern Denmark and to the people with diabetes living in the Region. The Center will create a hub for developing comprehensive initiatives for people with diabetes and will become the new gold standard in 5, 10 and 20 years.”
Bent Hansen (Social Democratic Party), President of the Central Denmark Regional Council, says: “We are very pleased with this agreement. This will enable us to strengthen the initiatives related to diabetes throughout the Central Denmark Region, both at the new Center and at the hospitals in the Region, to benefit people with diabetes in the entire Region.”
The grants to the Region of Southern Denmark and the Central Denmark Region will run for 10 years, with the possibility of extension thereafter. The Foundation will fund the operating costs of the supplementary activities associated with preventing late complications, clinical research, intersectoral collaboration and education related to diabetes. In addition, the Foundation will also fund the construction and equipping of the new user-friendly buildings.
VISION STATEMENT FOR A CENTER IN REGION ZEALAND APPROVED
On 5 September 2017, the Foundation’s Board also approved a vision statement for strengthening the initiatives related to diabetes in Region Zealand. A broad political majority in the Zealand Regional Council approved the vision statement.
The vision statement for establishing Steno Diabetes Center Zealand supports the demographics and hospital structure of the Region and is based on a decentralized centre structure with a coordinating unit in Holbæk and four treatment and research units in hospitals at Køge, Holbæk, Slagelse and Nykøbing Falster.
“With the vision framework in place, work can now continue on formalizing the project plan through discussions and collaboration with the stakeholders in the Region, including hospitals, the practice sector and the municipalities,” says Jannik Hilsted, Head of Steno Grants, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Once the project plan is completed, it is subject to approval by both the Zealand Regional Council and the Foundation’s Board. This is envisioned to take place during 2018.
Jens Stenbæk (Venstre), President of the Zealand Regional Council, is looking forward to the prospect of a greatly strengthening the initiatives related to diabetes in the Region.
”The aim of creating Steno Diabetes Center Zealand is to implement diabetes initiatives of the highest international quality. This will help to make a very positive difference for everyone with diabetes in Region Zealand. In addition, significant initiatives are planned to limit the number of people developing diabetes in the Region by launching initiatives targeting people at higher risk. This will greatly strengthen the initiatives related to diabetes in Region Zealand.”
IMPROVING TREATMENT THROUGHOUT DENMARK
The vision behind establishing the Steno Diabetes Centers is to offer world-class research-based treatment to people with diabetes in Denmark. The Centers will integrate competencies within treatment, clinical research and education related to diabetes and will thereby be able to offer better and more integrated treatment to each person with diabetes.
In 2016, the Foundation awarded a grant of DKK 2.945 billion for establishing Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. In March 2017, the Foundation’s Board also approved a vision statement for strengthening initiatives related to diabetes in the North Denmark Region and indicated that the Region could expect a grant framework of up to DKK 700 million.
ABOUT STENO DIABETES CENTER ODENSE
The Center will be established in a new building adjacent to the new Odense University Hospital. The Center’s activities will begin in 2018, and the building is expected to be ready for use by the end of 2022. About 9000 people with diabetes are expected to be treated annually at the Center. Steno Diabetes Center Odense will be a centre of excellence for developing new treatment and prevention methods that will benefit people with diabetes in the Region. The Center will therefore will also work to disseminate new knowledge and new improved methods to other departments and hospitals in the Region and across sectors. The Center will focus on type 2 diabetes as a specific field of initiative. The ambition is for the Center to become a national knowledge centre for type 2 diabetes based on the Region’s current initiatives and research in this field. Read more about the Center at http://steno.novonordiskfonden.dk.
ABOUT STENO DIABETES CENTER AARHUS
The Center will be established as part of a new building at Aarhus University Hospital. The Center is expected to use the new building in mid-2022 but will begin its activities in 2018. About 8000 people with diabetes are expected to be treated annually at the Center. Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus will be an integrated part of the health initiatives in the Region and will initiate strengthened collaboration between the relevant parties in the diabetes field: hospitals in the Region, the municipalities and general practitioners. The Center will support research and development within intersectoral collaboration on coherence in relation to care pathways, disease prevention, early detection, treatment and prevention of later complications. Read more about the Center at http://steno.novonordiskfonden.dk.
ABOUT STENO DIABETES CENTER SJÆLLAND
The vision statement for the establishment of Steno Diabetes Center Zealand is based on the existing decentralized structure for treating people with diabetes in the Region. The initiative will be built around a coordinating unit in Holbæk and four treatment and research units in hospitals at Køge, Holbæk, Slagelse and Nykøbing Falster to ensure highly specialized treatment for everyone. The goal is to improve the quality of both prevention and the treatment of complications connected with diabetes. Read more about the Center at http://steno.novonordiskfonden.dk.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Region of Southern Denmark: Stephanie Lose, President, Southern Denmark Regional Council, phone: +45 2533 0982
Central Denmark Region: Bent Hansen, President, Central Denmark Regional Council, phone: +45 4031 3707
Region Zealand: Jens Stenbæk, President, Zealand Regional Council, phone: 20371198
Novo Nordisk Foundation: Christian Mostrup Scheel, Senior Press Officer, phone: +45 3067 4805, [email protected]
