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.

 

 

Professor Stephen O'Rahilly, MB, BCh, BAO, MD, University of Cambridge, UK

Professor O'Rahilly has recently been appointed Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Medicine at the University of Cambridge. He is also Professor of Metabolic Medicine in the Departments of Medicine and Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge. He also holds the post of Honorary Consultant Physician at Addenbrooke's Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge. Professor O'Rahilly has lectured extensively in his areas of expertise in diabetes and related topics, focusing particularly on the molecular genetics and pathology of obesity.