The Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation is pleased to announce the 2009 winner of the International Prize: Donald F. Steiner, MD, A. N. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, USA.
The Prize was inaugurated in 2008 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation, honoring those who have enlightened researchers in the field of diabetes around the world with their original and excellent scientific achievements.
Dr. Steiner will be awarded a Certificate of Honor, US$150,000, and a Japanese objet d'art at the award ceremony on March 2, 2010. On this day, we are honored to have the prize laureate, Donald F. Steiner, MD, present a commemorative lecture.
The Selection Committee of the Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation recognizes the outstanding achievements of Dr. Donald F. Steiner over many years of research: the discovery of proinsulin and characterization of the proinsulin processing pathway, clinical applications of C-peptide radioimmunoassay for measuring endogenous insulin production, and identification of a point mutation in the insulin gene causing various abnormalities in glucose metabolism. He has greatly contributed to our increased understanding in the mechanism of insulin secretion and related disorders.
The Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation hopes to contribute in advancing diabetes research with this yearly prize, enabling greater interchanges of ideas to fight this most prevalent disease.
About the Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation
The Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation was established in 1993 by Mrs. Mitsu Suzuki, in keeping with the last wishes of her husband, the late Mr. Manpei Suzuki, who was former president and chairman of Sankyo Co., Ltd. (presently Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.), chairman of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association of Japan, and member of the House of Councillors, The National Diet of Japan. The Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation sponsors domestic and international awards and provides funding to Japanese researchers to study overseas.