The award is named after the Canadian physiologist Charles H. Best, who co-discovered insulin. It is made in recognition of researchers who, like the award’s namesake, have made outstanding discoveries in the field of diabetes and metabolism research. Matthias Tschöp is the first European scientist to receive this distinction.
In his lecture, entitled "Unimolecular Polyagonists Reverse Obesity and Diabetes", Professor Tschöp reported on his research work to date and outlined future projects. Tschöp, who is Director of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center and the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, was selected by a committee made up of senior investigators in the field of endocrinology from the University of Toronto and affiliated members in the various hospitals and research centers in the city. The award is endowed by Dr. John K. and Mary E. Davidson.
Professor Tschöp’s research projects focus on the molecular mechanisms that underlie diabetes and obesity and aim to discover new approaches to the prevention and treatment of these diseases. His main area of interest is gut-brain communication and the key role played by neural circuits in regulating obesity, glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism.
Recently, Matthias Tschöp was awarded this year’s Carus Medal by the Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences, for his exceptional research work. He and his team are currently collaborating with physicians, engineers and chemists on the development of innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to the personalized prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes and concomitant diseases.
Further Information
Background:
Matthias Tschöp studied Human Medicine at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, where he obtained his doctorate in 1998. In 2003, after research stays in the USA and Germany, he worked as Associate Professor, and from 2009 as Professor, Endowed Chair and Research Director at the University of Cincinnati. In 2012, he became the first physician to receive an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, which he took up at the Technical University of Munich. Prof. Tschöp is concurrently Scientific Director of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center and the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, and also holds an Adjunct Professorship at Yale University. In recognition of his achievements he has received numerous other awards, including an ERC Advanced Grant, the Erwin Schrödinger Prize, the Endocrine Society’s Innovation Award and “Outstanding Scientific Achievement” Awards from the American Diabetes Association and the Obesity Society as well as a honorary doctorate from the University of Leipzig. Please find further information on the website of the University of Toronto.