Bob and Emily Levine know Type 1 diabetes all too well­– their daughter Violet was diagnosed when she was just 10 years old on a family vacation. Since then, and even before Violet’s diagnosis, the Levines have been on a mission to raise awareness about and advocate for diabetes.

The UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center is comprised of faculty members conducting basic, translational, and clinical research related to diabetes and its complications.

JDRF invited UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center Director Anath Shalev, M.D., to the Global T1D Cures Strategy Workshop: Genetic Engineering Approaches for T1D Workshop in October.

UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center Member and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Assistant Professor Alexandra Dodd, M.D. recently sat down with UAB MedCast podcast to talk about updates in diabetes treatment.

UAB Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Associate Professor and Scientist in the Comprehensive Diabetes Center Sushant Bhatnagar, Ph.D., was awarded a one-year R03 grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Drs. Bhatnagar (left) and Hunter (right)The UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) would like to congratulate both Sushant Bhatnagar, Ph.D., who has earned tenure, and Chad Hunter, Ph.D., who was promoted to professor.

UAB Professor in the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology and Senior Scientist in the Comprehensive Diabetes Center Sasanka Ramanadham, Ph.D., recently published an review entitled “Fatty acid-mediated signaling as a target for developing type 1 diabetes therapies,” in response to an invitation from the Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets journal (PMID: 37706269).

Tayleur White, Ph.D., a member of the Sasanka Ramanadham, Ph.D., Lab, successfully defended her dissertation on Tuesday, September 12.

From left: Tiffany Grimes, Emma Shepard, Truman Grayson, Dr. Anath Shalev

UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) Researcher V Truman Grayson was named the UAB Department of Medicine STAR Award winner for FY23 Q3. Truman has worked at the UCDC for over 12 years.

The DOM STAR Award is a quarterly award for staff excellence where staff members nominate their much-deserved fellow peers for outshining the rest. The DOM notes that it would not have accomplished what it has each quarter without its amazing staff.

Director of the UCDC Anath Shalev, M.D., was honored to nominate Truman for the award.

“Staff look to Truman as an example of cleanliness and organization in the lab,” Shalev wrote in her nomination letter. “He trains undergraduate and graduate students  and staff on the high level of excellence that is expected when working in a top research lab. Through his daily commitment to the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, Truman upholds the values of UAB.”

Director of Diabetes Research Administration for the UCDC Tiffany Grimes, R.N., BSN, also submitted a letter in support of Truman for the award.

“I have worked with Truman Grayson for over 5 years, and he has consistently displayed UAB values through his work.  He is dependable and trustworthy.  Most recently, Truman has gone above and beyond in supporting the recruitment of Drs. Ananda and Rita Basu,” said Grimes.

Grimes goes on to note Truman’s mechanical expertise and dedication to the UCDC.

“Truman has worked incredibly hard over the years to understand, operate, and fix equipment and exhibits excellence in lab organization and management, setting a great example for other labs around him and making him the perfect go-to person.”

Earlier this month, Truman was honored with a small surprise reception at the UCDC. He received a gift bag, certificate, and balloons, and UCDC researchers gathered to enjoy refreshments and congratulate Truman.

UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center Member and Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Professor Andy Basu, M.D. recently sat down with UAB MedCast podcast to talk about advances in diabetes technology.