About Us
Our Mission:
The Banting and Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC) was established in 1978 as an Extra-Departmental Unit of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto with the primary objective of advancing diabetes research, education, and patient care. The BBDC offers several studentships, fellowships, and other support for qualified individuals involved in diabetes research at the University of Toronto. In addition, the Centre hosts educational events for researchers and diabetes health care professionals. The programs of the BBDC are supported almost entirely from the income on its endowment. The BBDC has also received generous donations from industry and individuals which have funded various research programs for students and fellows.
Past and Present Directors:
1978-1981: Dr. Edward A. Sellers, a personal friend of
Dr. Charles Best, was the first Director.
1981-1993: Dr. Charles H. Hollenberg
1993-2000: Dr. Bernard Zinman
2000-present: Dr. Daniel J. Drucker
Our Members:
The Diabetes Centre membership is derived from various departments at the University of Toronto and its affiliated teaching hospitals. To be eligible for membership, one must be involved in full or part-time diabetes research, education, or patient care and employed at the University of Toronto or one of its affiliated institutions. In addition, the Centre has an expanded e-mail distribution list which includes individuals with diabetes interests located at other universities, employed by industry, or are involved in diabetes health care delivery. See the Membership section of this web site for more information.
Committees
The administrative structure of the BBDC consists of an Executive Committee, representing various constituencies at the University of Toronto which is chaired by the Director. There are also two major working committees - the Research Committee, and the Diabetes Care & Education Committee.
Executive Committee
This is the principal decision making body of the Centre established to ensure that the goals of the BBDC are appropriately implemented. The Executive Committee provides leadership and representation for the University of Toronto diabetes community. The members are:
DIRECTOR: Dr. Daniel Drucker, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Patricia Brubaker, Department of Physiology*
Dr. I. George Fantus, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Jacqueline James, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Amira Klip, Department of Biochemistry*
Dr. Gary Lewis, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Bernard Zinman, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Research Committee
Among its many responsibilities, the Research Committee advises the Executive Committee on new research initiatives to be undertaken by the Centre, and implements the scientific review of the BBDC research competitions. The members are:
CHAIR: Dr. Patricia Brubaker, Department of Physiology*
Dr. Andrew Advani, Department of Medicine, Division of
Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Richard Bazinet, Department of Nutritional Sciences*
Dr. Carolyn Cummins, Faculty of Pharmacy*
Dr. Tony Lam, Department of Physiology, and Department of Medicine*
Dr. Susan Quaggin, Department of Medicine, Division of
Nephrology*
Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, Department of Medicine, Division of
Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Jonathan Rocheleau, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical
Engineering*
Dr. Allen Volchuk, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Diabetes Care & Education Committee
This committee develops and publishes standards for the total health care of diabetic patients in Toronto area hospitals, and communicates these standards to health care practitioners nationally. The Diabetes Care and Education Committee organizes continuing medical education in diabetes for the health care team which is comprised of physicians, nurse educators, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals. The members are:
CHAIR: Dr. Jacqueline James, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Mrs. Leigh Caplan, Diabetes Educator, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Ms. Margaret De Melo, Clinical Dietitian, Toronto Western Hospital
Dr. Jeremy Gilbert, Department of Medicine, Division of
Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Ms. Jan Glozier, Diabetes Educator, North York General Hospital (Branson Division)
Mr. Henry Halapy, Diabetes Pharmacist, St. Michael's Hospital
Dr. Kusiel Perlman, Department of Paediatrics*
Dr. Baiju Shah, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
Dr. Rene Wong, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism*
* University of Toronto faculty