Charles H. Best Lecture
The University of Toronto Charles H. Best Lectureship and Award, endowed by Dr. John K. and Mary E. Davidson, was established to honour Charles H. Best, a co-discoverer of insulin and Chairman of the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto (1929-1965). It is intended to be the most prestigious International Award in the field of Diabetes given by the University of Toronto. In addition to the discovery of insulin, Dr. Best made a number of important discoveries in Endocrinology, Metabolism and other areas of Medicine. The Lectureship is held bi-annually. Speakers are selected by a committee made up of senior investigators in the field of endocrinology from the Department of Physiology and its affiliated members in the various Hospitals and Research Centres in Toronto. Invited speakers are individuals who have made outstanding contributions to research in diabetes. The Inaugural University of Toronto Charles H. Best Lectureship and Award was given by Dr. Donald Steiner on November 2nd, 1995.
This year's recipient, Dr. Lori Sussel, is the Research Director of the Barbara Davis Diabetes Center (BDC) and Director of the NIH-funded University of Colorado Diabetes Research Center. She also serves the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus as Associate Vice Chancellor for Basic Science Research. Lori was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. She received her graduate degree from Columbia University Medical School and pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Lori’s research is focused on understanding how transcription factors and RNA molecules regulate pancreatic islet development and function; these studies helped provide the foundation for the differentiation of insulin-producing beta cells from human ES cells. She has also identified the importance of maintaining beta-cell maturation and identity in the adult during physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Overall, Lori’s research has contributed significantly to understanding of the development and function of pancreatic islet cells, as well as how beta cells are targeted in type 1 diabetes.
Professor Sussel's presentation on April 10th will describe the role of transcription factors, long non-coding RNAs and RNA isoforms in regulating pancreatic islet cell fates and function in health and disease.
