A noted diabetes researcher and public health advocate from the University of Toronto has been selected to lead a “powerhouse” research network that will focus on the global fight against diabetes and other serious chronic diseases.
Lorraine Lipscombe, Physician and Associate Professor in the Temerty Medical School and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, has been named director of the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations.
Lipscombe is a distinguished endocrinologist serving at Women’s College Hospital, where she directs the hospital’s endocrinology department and is a senior scientist at the Women’s College Research Institute. Her research is focused on preventing and improving care and outcomes for patients with diabetes, especially women.
In February 2021, Novo Nordisk and the University of Toronto announced a $ 40 million investment to build the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations. The network, based at the University of T Mississauga, is a partnership between Temerty Medical School, the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the University of T Mississauga. The network will focus on interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate local diabetes research, education and delivery.
“I am delighted and honored to lead this visionary network to identify innovative and effective ways to make the population healthier,” said Lipscombe.
“The network will provide an unprecedented opportunity to integrate and align expertise in multiple areas to build a world-leading research program through strategic collaborations between three U of T academic powerhouses and key community stakeholders in the city of Mississauga.”
“As one of the most diverse cities in the world with a mix of urban and suburban areas and rates of obesity and diabetes much higher than the national average, Mississauga offers a unique setting to study interventions that can be applied to a wide range of contexts the whole world.”
The network’s management team welcomed the news of Lipscombe’s appointment.
Alexandra Gillespie, Vice President and Director of U of T Mississauga, hailed the new director as “a world-class researcher, proven team builder, and dynamic leader known for sharing her expertise to advance the success and wellbeing of others.”
“With her guiding hand, the network will achieve its goal of identifying and implementing strategies for the prevention of diabetes and diabetes complications in high-risk and marginalized groups,” added Professor Gillian Hawker, Chair of the Medical Faculty.
Lipscombe’s expertise in both clinical care and population health makes her “an excellent choice to lead the network,” said Professor Adalsteinn (Steini) brown, Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, where Lipscombe teaches at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
“As a clinician and epidemiologist, she is particularly adept at identifying the gaps between research and health care and has an impressive track record in addressing those gaps.”
Gillespie also pointed out Lipscombe’s skills in strategic planning.
“Professor Lipscombe will enable the Novo Nordisk Network to achieve its ambitious goals: to unite university departments, hospitals and community partners in the fight against diabetes and other serious chronic diseases,” said Gillespie.
“Your leadership will benefit the health of so many people in Mississauga, Toronto and around the world.”
The announcement of Lipscombe’s appointment comes at a significant time for diabetes research as U of T continues a year of celebrating the university’s 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.
In June, the city of Mississauga announced that it would be the first Canadian community to participate in the Cities Changing Diabetes program. The Novo Nordisk-supported initiative will provide the city with tools, resources and partners – including the network’s research center – to help prevent the rise in type 2 diabetes in Mississauga.
Around 420 million people worldwide live with diabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that the disease is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths annually. Complications can lead to devastating health consequences such as blindness or limb amputation.
“The discovery of insulin is a monumental achievement for Canada and a fine example of translating research into life-changing benefits for people,” said Lipscombe.
“Despite this discovery and all the advances made since then, diabetes remains a major burden for individuals, families, communities and health systems around the world.”
“Much research has been done to understand the causes of diabetes and its consequences, and to identify effective interventions. We now need to respond to this evidence by shifting our focus from describing what might work to what works. “
