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Richard N. Bergman, PhD, Receives American Diabetes Association's Distinguished Achievement Award

Posted on: Monday, 12 June 2006, 18:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA), the nation's largest and leading voluntary health organization in the fight against diabetes, announced today that Richard N. Bergman, PhD, received the Association's prestigious Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement Award at the organization's 66th Scientific Sessions, which runs through June 13.

The Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement Award is the ADA's highest scientific award and honors an individual who has made significant, long term contributions to our understanding of diabetes, its treatment and/or prevention. The award is named after Nobel Prize winner Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin treatment for diabetes.

"On behalf of the American Diabetes Association, we are delighted to present this prestigious award to Dr. Richard Bergman," said Robert A. Rizza, MD, President, Medicine & Science, of the American Diabetes Association. "His work has significantly improved our understanding of glucose metabolism and its role in metabolic diseases, including diabetes. Bergman's Minimal Model, which describes the kinetics of insulin in the body, has become the gold standard for measuring the causes of diabetes and is a tremendous contribution to diabetes research and care."

Dr. Bergman is currently the Keck Professor of Medicine and Chair, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Trained as an engineer, Dr. Bergman later earned his advanced degree in physiology. Dr. Bergman's research spans mathematical models, animal physiology, clinical investigation, disease prediction and mapping of susceptibility genes.

More than 15,000 top scientists, physicians and other health care professionals from around the world shared cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations and advances toward a cure for diabetes at the Association's 66th Scientific Sessions in Washington, DC.

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood sugar to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. Nearly 21 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes. And, an additional 41 million have pre- diabetes. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease in the United States and it has no cure.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides services to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342- 2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org/. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

American Diabetes Association

CONTACT: Sarah Bradley of the American Diabetes Association,+1-703-549-1500, ext. 2231

Web site: http://www.diabetes.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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