Mark A. Atkinson, PhD, has been selected to receive the American Diabetes Association’s® (ADA’s) 2018 Albert Renold Award. This award recognizes an individual whose career is distinguished by outstanding achievements in the training and mentorship of diabetes research scientists and in the facilitation of diabetes research. Dr. Atkinson will be recognized with this honor during the ADA’s 78th Scientific Sessions, June 22-26, 2018, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Dr. Atkinson is currently the Jeffrey Keene Family Professor, American Diabetes Association Eminent Scholar for Diabetes Research and Director of the Diabetes Institute at the University of Florida. He has had a lifelong commitment to both diabetes-related research and to training the next generation of diabetes scientists.
“Dr. Atkinson’s contributions to the mentorship and career development of the next generation of diabetes researchers has helped to ensure that fundamental discoveries in beta cell biology will be translated to improve the lives of people with diabetes,” said the ADA’s 2018 President of Medicine and Science Jane E.B. Reusch, MD. “Congratulations on this tremendous honor, and thank you, Mark, for your many vital contributions to our field. Mentoring young scientists and building effective teams is the foundation on which cures are built.”
With more than three decades dedicated to investigating the pathogenesis and natural history of type 1 diabetes, Dr. Atkinson has created a robust, collaborative environment for diabetes research that has contributed to significant advancements in our understanding of this disease.
Notably, Dr. Atkinson founded the Network for Pancreatic Organ donors with Diabetes (nPOD), a groundbreaking nationwide effort that collects and distributes tissues from organ donors with type 1 diabetes and those at risk for developing the disease to investigators throughout the world. Through nPOD, Dr. Atkinson has helped facilitate the performance of nearly 230 projects by 350 investigators in 20 countries to answer key type 1 diabetes research questions. Furthermore, Dr. Atkinson has been active in training the next generation of diabetes researchers, including mentoring more than 30 graduate students, fellows and junior faculty, and serving on the ADA’s Pathway to Stop Diabetes Mentor Advisory Group for four years.
The 2018 Albert Renold Award is supported by an unrestricted grant from Merck.
The American Diabetes Association’s 78th Scientific Sessions, to be held June 22-26, 2018, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, is the world’s largest scientific meeting focused on diabetes research, prevention and care. During the five-day meeting, more than 16,000 health care professionals from around the world will have exclusive access to more than 3,000 original diabetes research presentations, participate in provocative and engaging exchanges with leading diabetes experts, and can earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Education (CE) credits for educational sessions. The program is grouped into eight theme areas: Acute and Chronic Complications; Behavioral Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Education and Exercise; Clinical Diabetes/Therapeutics; Epidemiology/Genetics; Immunology/Transplantation; Insulin Action/Molecular Metabolism; Integrated Physiology/Obesity; and Islet Biology/Insulin Secretion. Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, ABPP, President of Health Care and Education, will deliver her address, “The American Diabetes Association in the Era of Health Care Transformation,” on Saturday, June 23, and Jane E.B. Reusch, MD, President of Medicine and Science, will present her address, “24/7/365 – Lifetime with Diabetes,” on Sunday, June 24. In total, the 2018 Scientific Sessions includes 375 oral presentations; 2,117 poster presentations, including 47 moderated poster discussions; and 297 published-only abstracts. Join the Scientific Sessions conversation on social media using #2018ADA.
