ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases play an important role in discovering innovative ways to address the growing diabetes epidemic in the United States, the American Diabetes Association said at a congressional briefing.

The briefing, "Advancing Discovery: The Role of NIH Research in Fighting Diabetes," was held in conjunction with the Ad-Hoc Group for Medical Research, a coalition of national organizations that support federal funding for the NIH, and cosponsored by the ADA.

The briefing was held as members of Congress are mulling ways to fund federal programs in fiscal year 2012. NIDDK, which is 1-of-27 NIH institutes, is the primary federal agency that conducts research to find a cure for diabetes and improve diabetes care, the ADA said.