Center News
Need CME? Check out these UAB MedCast podcasts on diabetes
The UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) has compiled a list of diabetes-focused UAB MedCast podcast episodes from the last several months.
Five things you need to know about transitioning children with diabetes to adult care
Birthdays for children and teenagers can be incredibly exciting. From the double-digit milestone to the sweet sixteen driving milestone, growing older can bring many new changes.
Levine family continues advocacy for Type 1 diabetes
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.
UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center 2023 Research Roundup

The UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center is comprised of faculty members conducting basic, translational, and clinical research related to diabetes and its complications.
Read moreJDRF invites Shalev to speak at Type 1 diabetes workshop
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.
Dodd discusses diabetes treatment updates
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.
Bhatnagar awarded an NIH grant to study the effects of a gene on insulin secretion
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.
Bhatnagar awarded tenure, Hunter promoted to professor
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.
Ramanadham invited to share expert opinion on Type 1 diabetes therapies
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).
White successfully defends doctoral dissertation, receives first place award
Tayleur White, Ph.D., a member of the Sasanka Ramanadham, Ph.D., Lab, successfully defended her dissertation on Tuesday, September 12.
Grayson wins DOM Star Award for staff excellence

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.
A. Basu discusses advancements in diabetes technology with UAB Medcast podcast
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.
R. Basu serves as editor for textbook Precision Medicine in Diabetes
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Professor and Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute Senior Scientist Rita Basu, M.D., recently served as editor for the textbook Precision Medicine in Diabetes: A Multidisciplinary Approach to an Emerging Paradigm.
Shalev speaks with healthcare podcast about advancements in Type 1 diabetes treatment
Taking the Pulse: a Health Care Podcast recently invited Anath Shalev, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), to speak on advancements in Type 1 diabetes.
Shalev chaired session at 2023 HIRN meeting
Director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) Anath Shalev, M.D., attended the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) 2023 Annual Investigator Meeting in Washington, D.C., where she chaired a session.
Read moreUCDC supports the 2023 Endocrinology Update Conference
On Saturday, August 19, the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism hosted the 2023 UAB Endocrinology Update Conference.
Get to know the UCDC researchers: Jeonga Kim
In a new series, the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), a leader in the field of diabetes research, will highlight its dynamic faculty and trainees.
Hunter lab explores the role of SSBP3 gene regulator in pancreatic islet cell function
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Associate Professor Chad Hunter, Ph.D., recently published an article exploring the role of a co-regulator, SSBP3, in pancreatic islet cell function.
Alsharif receives first place award for graduate student oral presentation
Haifa "Saba" Alsharif, a fifth-year graduate student in Dr. Sushant Bhatnagar's Lab, won first place for her oral presentation at the annual UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences Symposium.
Shalev paper in Endocrinology journal tapped for Thematic Issue on Diabetes

The Endocrine Society's family of journals selected the research of UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center’s Director Anath Shalev, M.D., to be featured in the Endocrine Society Thematic Issue on Diabetes 2023.
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