Main Content
Dr. Bernard Zinman - Toronto, ON
Director, Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
Mount Sinai Hospital
Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Bernard Zinman has been involved in diabetes care and research for 35 years. He has been working at the University of Toronto since 1973 and came to Mount Sinai Hospital in 1990. He was the Principal Investigator of the University of Toronto centre of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) - which showed that keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible slows the onset and progression of eye, kidney, and nerve damage caused by diabetes, even if an individual has a history of poor control of their blood glucose levels. He is vice chair of the long term follow up of the DCCT and the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study.
The aim of Dr. Zinman’s research is to develop new therapies that treat diabetes and improve care and quality of life for people with diabetes. “It is only through research that new therapies are developed.”
Some of the research Dr. Zinman is presently involved in includes investigating methods for low-dose medication and combination therapy to prevent type 2 diabetes; development of new therapies for type 2 diabetes by examining incretins; and looking at the benefits of intensive insulin therapies that can result in a remission of the metabolic abnormalities of type 2diabetes.
“Toronto is at the forefront of diabetes discoveries. The legacy of Banting and Best has been carried on as major initiatives continue to be researched in the city.”
Dr. Zinman acknowledges the Canadian Diabetes Association for highlighting the impact of diabetes in Canada and around the world and being a critical resource that supports diabetes research to ensure that further advanced research can be conducted.
“The Canadian Diabetes Association is an important body in Canada - they are recognized for supporting fundamental research initiatives, education and clinical care as well as advocating for people with diabetes, and have been a personal support for my work.”
© 2012 Copyright Canadian Diabetes Association