The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community made good yesterday on a $5 million pledge to the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Leaders of both entities signed documents to formalize the commitment and announced that funds will support genetics research on diabetes, which is disproportionately represented in certain Native American populations.

The pledge was offered roughly a year ago as part of a $100-million fundraising effort to establish the genomics group in Arizona. The tribal funds will be given over a five-year period.

TGen will compare genetic differences between people with severe complications from diabetes to those with more mild complications. Salt River officials have said that diabetes affects one of every five tribal members.

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More information:

"Salt River tribe to fund TGen study," Arizona Republic, 6/3/03

"$5M pledged to genetics research," East Valley Tribune, 6/3/03 

Translational Genomics Research Institute