The UAB Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Professors and UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) Senior Scientists Ananda Basu, M.D., and Rita Basu, M.D., were each awarded an endowed professorship.
Ananda is now the holder of the S. Richardson Hill, Jr. Endowed Professorship in Endocrinology, and Rita is the inaugural holder of the Endowed Professorship in Diabetes Science.
Ananda and Rita are both world class clinician scientists in diabetes. Their joining UAB in 2023 is a result of the successful Strategic Recruitment Initiative of the Heersink School of Medicine and the UCDC, initiating a new phase of growth in diabetes research.
S. Richardson Hill Jr. Endowed Professorship in Endocrinology
S. Richardson Hill, Jr., M.D., was the first director of the UAB Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. He then went on to serve as dean of the medical school and was the second president of UAB, serving from 1977 – 1987.
Hill came to UAB in 1954 and he remained involved on the campus until his death in 2003. He is a member of the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame.
Ananda is honored to receive the S. Richardson Hill, Jr. Endowed Professorship in Endocrinology.
“I admire Dr. Hill for his wonderful work in building the division as well as growing the medical school and UAB campus as a whole,” said Ananda. “It is a great honor to have my name associated with Dr. Hill, who is a UAB legacy and a pioneer in the field of endocrinology.”
At UAB, Ananda has maintained a busy clinical practice with the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism while leading his clinical research. Ananda has authored close to 200 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and presented more than 150 scientific abstracts in national and international scientific meetings.
Ananda’s primary research focus is to better understand glucose and glucagon physiology in Type 1 diabetes with the ultimate goal to help develop the next generation of artificial endocrine pancreas that re-creates as closely as possible a truly functional islet. His work aims to expand understanding of glucagon physiology on developing a closed loop glucagon infusion therapy to prevent hypoglycemia in patients with post bariatric surgery hypoglycemia syndrome.
Ananda serves as the principal investigator/co-investigator on multiple NIH projects. These currently include one that aims to recreate an electronic beta cell for those with Type 1 diabetes; another that seeks to further understand glucagon secretion and its metabolism in humans with and without Type 1 diabetes; and another that seeks to investigate the effects of closed loop insulin therapy on postprandial carbohydrate metabolism as adolescents go through puberty.
Endowed Professorship in Diabetes Science
The inaugural Endowed Professorship in Diabetes Science was created to honor faculty in diabetes science that make significant contributions to the understanding, prevention, and management of diabetes, ultimately improving the lives of individuals affected by diabetes.
Rita was appointed as medical director and chair of the UAB Institutional Review Board in July 2023.
During her time at the Mayo Clinic, which spanned over two decades, Rita served as Co-director of a WHO-International Diabetes Center and Mayo Clinic educational program which spanned over 5 years and trained over 700 endocrinologists worldwide, Rita also served as clinical education director of the Center of Diabetes Technology at University of Virginia. She plans to lead clinical education efforts in the Diabetes Technology Program, once established here at UAB.
Rita is currently the principal investigator on projects that are both NIH and industry funded, including studies on the mechanisms of hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance in humans with Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Rita has also been an active researcher in the field of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, co-authoring management guidelines for NASH/NAFLD for endocrinologists and she has edited a textbook on Precision Medicine of Diabetes.
Rita’s work has produced around 175 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and she has presented more than 150 abstracts in national and international Scientific meetings. She serves on the editorial board of the prestigious American Journal of Physiology as well as the high-impact American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care.
“I am delighted to hold the first Endowed Professorship in Diabetes Science at UAB,” said Rita. “The professorship represents the ongoing strides that the Basu Lab is making in diabetes research. I look forward to continuing to expand our knowledge of diabetes and helping create more effective treatment options.”
Leadership from both the division as well as the UCDC are pleased that the Basus are being honored and recognized for their past, current, and future contributions to the field of diabetes research and patient care.
“Not only do these professorships recognize the past dedication and accomplishments of Drs. Ananda and Rita Basu, but they also highlight the excitement that we have for all that the Basus will continue to do in diabetes research and patient care,” said Fernando Ovalle, M.D., director of the UAB Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and associate director of the UCDC.
“The Basus are leading exceptional diabetes research,” said Anath Shalev, M.D., director of the UCDC. “The center, division, and UAB as a whole are pleased to continue to support their work. We are all looking forward to the research breakthroughs they will make in the coming years to help improve the lives of those with diabetes.”