Dr Robert Sherwin, Yale University, School of Medicines, New Haven, USA

Dr. Robert S. Sherwin, is a CNH Long Professor of Medicine and the Interim Endocrinology Section Chief at Yale University Medical School. He is the Director of the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, the Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center, and the JDRF Center for the study of Hypoglycemia at Yale. Dr. Sherwin has focused his research in two areas; glucose counterregulation and the immunology of type 1 diabetes. The studies dealing with counterregulation examine the molecular mechanisms used by the hypothalamic glucose sensing neurons to activate counterregulatory responses and the impact of hypoglycemia and insulin on brain function and metabolism. His research in immunology has led to the isolation of islet-specific T cell clones from diabetic mice that adoptively transfer diabetes or prevent disease development.

Professor Bo Ahrén, Department of Medicine, Biomedical Centre B1, Lund University, Sweden

Bo Ahrén received his MD from Lund University, Sweden, in 1977. He became Associate Professor at Lund University in 1981 and Professor in Clinical Metabolic Research in 1995. Dr Ahrén was the Chief Physician at the County of Skåne from 2004 to 2005, and since 2006 has been the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. He is also a clinical consultant at the Department of Endocrinology at Lund University Hospital.
Dr Ahrén has published more than 600 original articles and review articles on the subject of insulin secretion. Combining basic science with clinically oriented research focusing on insulin secretion, Dr Ahrén is particularly interested in understanding the regulation and mechanism of normal insulin secretion and the mechanisms and consequences of failing insulin secretion as an important pathogenetic factor in diabetes. He has also undertaken research to develop new targets and compounds for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Over recent years, Dr Ahrén has concentrated on incretin actions, with particular emphasis on developing new treatments for type 2 diabetes based on the incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1.

Professor Michael Nauck, Diabeteszentrum Bad Lauterberg, Germany

Michael A Nauck is Head of the Diabeteszentrum Bad Lauterberg, Germany, a specialized hospital for people with diabetes. He has followed the progress of research into the regulation of insulin secretion by gut hormones since 1980 and has contributed to this development by conducting clinical studies in this field.

Professor Geremia B Bolli, MD, University of Perugia, Italy

Professor Bolli is Full Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Perugia, Italy. Professor Bolli is a prolific author, with a special interest in hypoglycemia in diabetes and its counter-regulation, and intensive insulin therapy.

Dr Steven E Kahn, MB, ChB, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

Dr Kahn is the Director of Research and Development at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA. Dr Kahn's research interests include beta-cell function in normal subjects and the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. He has made critical contributions to our understanding of the normal relationships between insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function that have helped define the importance of the beta-cell defect in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. He has also carried out extensive work on the regulation of proinsulin and amylin secretion in man. Dr Kahn has also carried out studies using animal models. These have been primarily directed at understanding the role of islet amyloid deposition in the pathogenesis of the beta-cell lesion of type 2 diabetes. His work in this area suggests that dietary fat may be an important contributor to the development of these changes.

Prof. Kadowaki, Vice-director, Tokyo University Hospital
Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan

Dr. Takashi Kadowaki is the Professor of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University of Tokyo. Dr. Kadowaki has contributed significantly to the elucidation of molecular mechanism of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In particular, Dr. Kadowaki’s laboratory co-discovered insulin sensitizing action of adiponectin and even more importantly identified receptrors for adiponectin (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Due to an outstanding contribution to research in the field of diabetes, Dr. Kadowaki has achieved worldwide recognition. Dr. Kadowaki currently serve as the chairman of Board of Directors, Japan Diabetes Society.