Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Summer 2017 - 18

77TH SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS NEWS
Award Recipients continued from page 17
on the placenta's molecular and cellular response to fetal signals,
resulting in structural and functional adaptations of the placenta
to the diabetic environment. Dr. Desoye has coordinated a
pan-European multicenter project on Vitamin D and lifestyle
intervention (the DALI project) to prevent gestational diabetes.
He is currently exploring the effects of maternal lifestyle on early
placental and fetal development. He is also working to integrate
findings from basic and clinical studies to expand our understanding of maternal-placental-fetal interaction in the context of
maternal overnutrition.

understanding, detecting, treating, and preventing diabetic foot
complications. Dr. Wukich previously established and directed
the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy Center for
Healing and Amputation Prevention.

Dr. Desoye's colleagues commend him for promoting collegiality
and advancing international progress to improve pregnancy outcomes for women with diabetes. His award lecture was titled "The
Human Placenta in Maternal Overnutrition: Friend or Foe?"

Among his research interests are foot and ankle problems in
patients with traumatic brain injury or stroke, athletes, and
people with diabetes. With more than 100 publications and
invited lectures delivered around the world, Dr. Wukich is noted
for his leadership roles, excellence in teaching, and compassionate, high-quality care. He has educated more than 150 resident
physicians and 10 reconstructive foot and ankle fellows and
remains actively involved in educating orthopaedic surgeons. His
award lecture was titled "Addressing Quality of Life in Patients
with Diabetic Foot Disease-Why It Is Important and How We
Can Improve."

Dane K. Wukich, MD, a professor and the Dr. Charles F.
Gregory Distinguished Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
in Dallas, received this year's Roger Pecoraro Award. The
award, conferred by the Foot Care Interest Group, recognizes a
researcher who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to

Dr. Wukich is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a chief of orthopaedic surgery in the Army Medical Corps during Operations
Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He is internationally recognized
for his work in limb salvage, management of diabetes-related
complications, and education.

RESEARCH NEWS

Pathway to Stop Diabetes: Highlights From Scientific Sessions
On June 9, 2017, the American Diabetes
Association convened its fourth Pathway
Symposium immediately preceding the
start of the 77th Scientific Sessions in San
Diego, Calif.
The newest group of six Pathway
awardees whose Pathway funding
commenced in January 2017 presented
their project plans and progress to date
in this intimate and confidential setting.
The audience, which included members
of the Pathway Mentor Advisory Group,
other Pathway scientists, Association
leadership, and corporate and individual
supporters of the Pathway program, was
highly engaged and impressed with the
presentations.
The transformational ideas presented included a chemist's approach to
reversing complications of diabetes; novel
techniques to explore how the brain
contributes to glucose metabolism and
diabetes; new approaches that may treat
or prevent hypoglycemia; a mechanical
engineer's approach to develop a wearable
continuous glucose monitoring patch;
the influence of adipocyte-derived factors

on glucose metabolism; and the contribution of intestinal microbes to triggering autoimmune diabetes. The newest
Pathway scientists demonstrated that the
Association is continuing to achieve its
objectives with the Pathway program:
finding, funding, and nurturing brilliant,
creative scientists with a high likelihood
of making a significant difference in
diabetes. Discussions with the Pathway
Mentor Advisory Group revealed that
the six 2017 Pathway awardee scientists
are innovative leaders and rising stars in
diabetes research.
The Scientific Sessions program also
featured a dedicated Pathway session
open to all meeting attendees. Six
awardees presented their work during
this symposium.
Daniel J. Ceradini, MD, FACS, is a 2016
Pathway Accelerator Award recipient and
an assistant professor of plastic surgery at
New York University School of Medicine
in New York City. His Pathway project
aims to improve tissue regeneration in
the setting of diabetes to enhance wound
healing and avoid amputation. In San

Diego, Dr. Ceradini presented the results
of a promising study in mice that supported the role of antioxidant networks
in wound repair. By using a nanoparticle
vehicle to deliver a molecular therapy
to wound tissue, he observed enhanced
expression of antioxidant genes and
improved wound healing. Dr. Ceradini
hopes to quickly translate these findings
for clinical use.
Joshua P. Thaler, MD, PhD, is a 2014
Pathway Accelerator Award recipient and
an associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of
Washington in Seattle. His Pathway
project explores the role of the brain in
the development of obesity. This year,
Dr. Thaler presented data from genetic
mouse studies suggesting that activation
of a particular cell type in the brain,
called astrocytes, is required for high-fat
diet-induced overeating. When a genetic
component of the inflammation signal
in astrocytes was eliminated, mice ate
less and increased energy expenditure
in the presence of a high-fat diet. These
results suggest that targeting astrocyte
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Diabetes Pro Quarterly - Summer 2017