Diabetes Center of Excellence

For three decades Dr. Aldo Rossini, Director, Diabetes Center of Excellence and Dr. Michael Czech, Chair, Program in Molecular Medicine, have stood at the forefront of diabetes research. Contributions to the field have earned each of them the Banting Medal for Scientific Achievements from the American Diabetes Association. It is the highest scientific honor given in America for the study of Diabetes.

Dr. Rossini retired from the University in December 2008 and the recruitment of his successor to lead the Clinical Diabetes Center of Excellence was recently completed. David M. Harlan, MD, PhD, the diabetes branch chief at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the NIH, is joining UMass Medical School and the UMass Memorial Health Care as director of the Diabetes Center of Excellence and division chief of diabetes; he will also be the associate director of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center.

Dr. Harlan expects to quickly focus on three significant goals: to build a patient-centered clinical care system that provides the most up-to-date therapies, while also exploring new treatment methods; to build on the strengths of the basic research already underway and expand investigation into autoimmune disease; and to promote translational research and bring promising laboratory advances safely into clinical trials.