The American Diabetes Association Announces the 2025 National Scientific and Health Care Achievement Award Winners

ARLINGTON, Va., March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) is pleased to announce this year's National Scientific and Health Care Achievement Award recipients. The awards honor academics, clinicians, and educators who have contributed to substantial advances in diabetes care and research.

"The diligent work of these passionate professionals is moving us closer to a world free of diabetes. Their contributions to research, prevention, and treatment are creating lasting change and improving the lives of people affected by diabetes," said Charles "Chuck" Henderson, the ADA's chief executive officer.

The following award recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony at the ADA's 85(th) Scientific Sessions in June.

    --  Steven E. Kahn, MB, ChB is the recipient of the 2025 Banting Medal for
        Scientific Achievement, which recognizes significant long-term
        contributions to the understanding, treatment, or prevention of
        diabetes. Kahn started his career in science with an interest in
        diabetes four decades ago. He credits his contributions to broadened
        learning and scientific interactions with students, fellows, faculty,
        and collaborators around the world, who together continue to build on
        past contributions to the understanding of diabetes.
    --  Shingo Kajimura, PhD is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Scientific
        Achievement Award, which recognizes research in diabetes that
        demonstrates particular independence of thought and originality.
        Kajimura pioneered the field of bioenergetics, particularly through the
        lens of brown adipose tissue as a model of mitochondrial biology. His
        work is paving the way for rewiring adipose tissue bioenergetics to
        improve metabolic health.
    --  Barbara B. Kahn, MD, MS is the recipient of the 2025 Albert Renold
        Award, which is presented to an individual whose career is distinguished
        by outstanding achievements in the training and mentorship of diabetes
        research scientists and in the development of communities of scientists
        to enhance diabetes research. Kahn's tireless dedication to mentorship,
        advocacy, and leadership has left an indelible mark on the field of
        diabetes and metabolism research. She has empowered an "army" of
        outstanding and diverse scientists and academicians that populate top
        research and academic institutions throughout the world. She is a role
        model who has had a tremendous impact, not only on the biological
        sciences and the larger scientific community, but also on the many
        people who benefit from the knowledge, environment, and networks she
        created.
    --  Melanie J. Davies, CBE, MBChB, MD, FRCP, FRCGP, FMedSci is the recipient
        of the 2025 Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Diabetes Research Award,
        which recognizes exceptional contributions in patient-oriented clinical
        outcomes research that have had a significant impact on diabetes
        prevention and treatment. Davies' research is driven by her clinical
        experience and the voices of people living with diabetes. It includes
        screening for type 2 diabetes, prevention, self-management, 24-hour
        physical behaviors, and novel therapies for type 2 diabetes and obesity,
        with a recent focus on early onset type 2 diabetes.
    --  Alison Evert, MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES is the recipient of the 2025
        Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award, which recognizes a distinguished
        health professional who has made outstanding educational efforts in the
        field of diabetes. Evert has worked in the field of diabetes nutrition
        therapy for over 30 years, with a focus on increasing nutrition and
        diabetes education services for people with diabetes in primary care.
        She has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on the topic
        of evidence-based diabetes nutrition therapy as well as patient
        education materials.
    --  Alice Y.Y. Cheng, MD, FRCPC is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding
        Physician Clinician in Diabetes Award, which is presented to an
        individual to reward and honor meritorious contributions to diabetes
        clinical practice. Through her work as an endocrinologist, she shares
        her passion for diabetes knowledge with the masses.
    --  K. M. Venkat Narayan, MD, MSc, MBA, FRCPI is the recipient of the 2025
        Distinguished International Service in the Cause of Diabetes, which
        honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding research,
        evaluation, and care in diabetes performed from an international
        perspective with an international impact. Narayan is Ruth and O.C.
        Hubert chair of global health and has appointments in epidemiology and
        endocrinology at Emory University. He is an elected member of the U.S.
        National Academy of Medicine, and foreign fellow of the Indian National
        Science Academy.
    --  Juliana C.N. Chan, MB, ChB, MD, FHKAM, FHKCP, FRCP is the recipient of
        the 2025 Kelly West Award for Outstanding Achievement in Epidemiology,
        which recognizes significant contributions to the field of diabetes
        epidemiology. By designing a structured assessment protocol, Chan led
        her team to establish the Hong Kong Diabetes Register (HKDR) as a
        data-driven quality improvement program to stratify risk, empower
        self-management, and inform early intervention which has inspired
        data-driven care models across Asia. The HKDR accompanied by a biobank
        has defined the Asian phenotypes and genotypic heterogeneity of
        young-onset diabetes. The 30-year data has formed the Chinese Diabetes
        Outcome Model to predict lifetime risk of multiple outcomes to inform
        personalized prevention.

In addition, the ADA also announces the recipients of the 2025 Professional Membership Awards, recognizing excellence in the following areas:

    --  Naveed Sattar, MBChB, PhD (Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine,
        University of Glasgow, and Honorary Consultant in Metabolic Medicine,
        Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK): Recipient of the Edwin Bierman
        Award, honoring outstanding scientific achievement in the prevention and
        treatment of macrovascular complications.
    --  Monique Hedderson, PhD (Associate Director of Women's and Children's
        Health Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California,
        Pleasanton, CA): Recipient of the Norbert Freinkel Award, honoring
        outstanding scientific achievement in the understanding and treatment of
        diabetes and pregnancy.
    --  Edwin B. Fisher, PhD (Global Director, Peers for Progress; Professor in
        the Department of Health Behavior in the Gillings School of Global
        Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill): Recipient
        of the Richard R. Rubin Award, honoring outstanding scientific
        achievement in the understanding of the behavioral aspects of diabetes.
    --  Joseph L. R. Mills Sr., MD, FACS, DFSVS (Reid Professor, Division of
        Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy in the Michael E. DeBakey
        Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas):
        Recipient of the Roger Pecoraro Award, honoring outstanding scientific
        achievement in the prevention, treatment, and management of
        diabetes-related foot complications.
    --  Jill Weissberg-Benchell, PhD, CDCES (Pediatric Psychologist, The
        Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Professor of
        Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg
        School of Medicine): Recipient of the Lois Jovanovic Transformative
        Woman in Diabetes Award, recognizing a female professional in the
        diabetes field who has made outstanding contributions to diabetes
        research, clinical practice, diabetes education, public health, and/or
        other related disciplines.

The ADA's Scientific Sessions is the world's largest scientific meeting focused on diabetes research, prevention, and care. Thousands of leading physicians, scientists, and health care professionals from around the world are expected to convene to unveil cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations, and advances toward a cure for diabetes. Attendees will receive exclusive access to thousands of original research presentations and take part in provocative and engaging exchanges with leading diabetes experts. Join the Scientific Sessions conversation on social media using #ADASciSessions.

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to end diabetes and helping people thrive. This year, the ADA celebrates 85 years of driving discovery and research to prevent, manage, treat, and ultimately cure --and we're not stopping. There are 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Through advocacy, program development, and education, we're fighting for them all. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383). Join us in the fight on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). To learn more about how we are advocating for everyone affected by diabetes, visit us on X (@AmDiabetesAssn).

Contact: Virginia Cramer, (703) 253-4927
press@diabetes.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-american-diabetes-association-announces-the-2025-national-scientific-and-health-care-achievement-award-winners-302396015.html

SOURCE American Diabetes Association