We’re delighted to appoint four new diabetes experts to lead the Diabetes Research Steering Groups (DRSGs). DRSGs bring together people living with diabetes, healthcare professionals and diabetes researchers. They help to guide diabetes research in the UK, so that it has the biggest impact in the areas that matter most to people living with the condition.
Dr Abd Tahrani will be leading the DRSG that focuses on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and what new treatments can be developed. Abd is Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, and Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist and Bariatric Physician. He's also the lead for weight management research and diabetic neuropathy services at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Abd’s research interests include the management of obesity and the outcomes of bariatric surgery.
Professor Martin Rutter will be leading the DRSG that focuses on the complications of diabetes. Martin is Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine and Honorary Consultant Physician at the University of Manchester. He's interested in research on cardiovascular (heart) disease in people with diabetes and islet and pancreas transplantations.
The Leadership Panel, which oversees the seven DRSGs, gains a new leader in Professor John Petrie. Additionally, Dr Paul Robb is now chairing the DRSG Lay and HCP Forum. This group helps connect the DRSGs to people living with diabetes.
Professor John Petrie is Professor of Diabetic Medicine at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on understanding and preventing heart complications in people with diabetes. It mainly looks at therapies that can be used alongside insulin in people with type 1 diabetes.
Dr Paul Robb lives with type 2 diabetes and was formerly the Deputy Chair of the group. He has also been a member of the Diabetes UK Grants Advisory Panel. He also sat on the Steering Group for the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership for type 2 diabetes.
We would like to give huge thanks to Professor Sally Marshall, Dr Rob Andrews and Steve Bailey. They are stepping down as DRSG Chairs and their tireless support and leadership has been crucial in the past achievements of the DRSGs.
Tom Wylie is the DRSG Research Manager at Diabetes UK. He said:
“We’re excited to welcome four new Chairs to lead the Diabetes Research Steering Groups. Their expertise, passion and connection to diabetes are crucial in identifying and answering the research questions that matter most to people with diabetes.
"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those stepping down for their hard work and insight. Their work has been central to achieving the impact the initiative has had so far.”
