While there is hardly any doubt left on the severity of diabetes, it has been confirmed by Alex Salmond that Inverness would be spearheading research in the same field. There would be financial help coming from the international firm LifeScan, and some $4.48 million would be added by Scottish government via Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It has been known that LifeScan Scotland is among the largest life sciences companies in Scotland.

It was announced by the First Minister at the North American commercial headquarters of LifeScan in Milpitas, California. He is on a four-day visit to the US. It was also told that the visit is aimed to develop economic relations between the two countries. He would also be attending the premiere of the Brave, which is an animated film based on Scottish characters. Apart from this, he would speak to the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco.

“The research and development money will create new highly skilled, well-paid jobs and will build on Scotland’s reputation for supporting economic growth and innovation”, he said, while asserting that there is need for research and development to be raised to another level so that all those who are grappling with the disease can be treated.