William J. Rutter PhD, who in 1977 with his colleagues achieved the first major triumph of genetic engineering by isolating the gene for rat insulin and transplanting it into bacteria, eventually leading to the mass production of genetically engineered insulin to treat diabetes, passed away on June 11, 2025.
Jeff Bluestone PhD, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), one of the highest honors bestowed on American scientists. "I am humbled by this honor," he said. "I have always believed that we are only as good as the people we train and collaborate with and I've had the privilege of partnering with so many great people."
Dr. Gerold Morton Grodsky (Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Medicine, UCSF, Emeritus, Active), science professor and bon vivant, who found humor in life, and provided warmth and support to friends and professional associates. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, January 18, 1927, the son of Louis G. Grodsky and Goldie (née) Feldacker. Died Thursday, December 29, 2022 surrounded by his loved ones, in San Francisco. He was 95 years old but lived until the end like a much younger man.
Join us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the UCSF Diabetes Center. Hear from our distinguished researchers who will share updates on their groundbreaking efforts to prevent and treat diabetes. Visit our special events page to RSVP.
Parnassus Campus, school of Nursing n-225
9:00am Registration
Last year the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the NCD LAB, an initiative leveraging community-driven grassroots innovations with the potential to be game changers in beating non-communicable diseases including diabetes. Since its launch, nearly 100 innovative projects have been submitted to the NCD Lab.
A personal investigation into the lifelong implications of his type 1 diabetes culminated in a $7 million gift from Mike Gordon, co-founder of Meritech Capital Partners, and his wife, Loren, to help UCSF surmount a key impediment to treating the disease. The funds will support world-class stem cell biologists, immunologists, and bioengineers who are working to overcome significant barriers to beta-cell replacement therapy.
Martin Thelin, MD PhD a clinical fellow in the Anderson Lab, has been awarded a JDRF Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in “Gaining insight into type 1 diabetes pathogenesis through STAT gain of function”. The fellowship is designed to attract qualified and promising health scientists, provide an opportunity to receive full-time research training, and assist these promising individuals in transitioning from a fellowship to an independent faculty-level position.
Emilie Ronin PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Tang lab, has been awarded a JDRF Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in "Engineering regulatory T cells for type 1 diabetes immunotherapy." The fellowship is designed to attract qualified and promising health scientists, to provide an opportunity to receive full time research training, and to assist these promising individuals in transitioning from a fellowship to an independent faculty-level position.
The American Association of Immunologists proudly announced the 2022 recipients of AAI Awards for Outstanding Research and Career Achievements, including the AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology Research to Jeffrey Bluestone, PhD, "for significant, sustained achievement in immunology research pertinent to human disease pathogenesis, prevention, or therapy."
The second cohort of scientists to be named Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigators have been announced, including Mark Anderson, MD, PhD and Michael McManus, PhD, who will receive $1 million in unrestricted gift funds over a nonrenewable 5-year term, beginning in March.
