Dr. C. Ronald Kahn is a trailblazer in insulin and diabetes research. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has changed our understanding of diabetes and insulin resistance for the benefit of millions of people around the world living with the condition.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Kahn completed his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Louisville, and then went on to work in several different roles for the National Institute of Health (NIH) in the US. It was at the NIH that he developed an interest in diabetes. He subsequently moved to the Harvard Medical School where he was appointed Associate Professor, and later full Professor and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine, as well as the Research Director of the Joslin Diabetes Centre.

Dr. Kahn’s research group studies a wide range of topics within diabetes, from understanding the condition on a molecular level to how it affects different organs of the body, as well as the patients themselves living with it as they age. Insulin resistance and how that occurs has always been a key focus of their work. Insulin is a chemical messenger in the body important for regulating blood sugar, which it does by binding to receptors. If we think of each insulin molecule as a key, then insulin receptors are the locks to fit those keys. To understand why insulin doesn’t work well in some people (as is the case in insulin-resistance and diabetes), it is important to understand the structure and function of the receptors, or locks, to which insulin binds. Dr. Kahn and his research team were able to discover that insulin binds to a special type of receptor called a tyrosine-kinase receptor. This key finding not only helps us understand how insulin functions and what goes wrong, but also provides key drug targets for future therapies.

Dr. Kahn is also interested in what specifically causes insulin-resistance. He is doing this by mapping out where insulin acts in the body, and seeing what role this molecule plays throughout. Dr. Kahn and his team have discovered that insulin is important in many different organs, including in the brain, which helps explain why diabetes can lead to neurodegenerative abnormalities. Additionally, his team is investigating the effect of ageing on diabetes. As we get older, our metabolism changes, which can affect symptoms and lead to additional complications.

Further, Dr. Kahn’s team has been studying fat cells, unravelling the link between obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. They are revealing that genetic and environmental factors can have an impact on the community of bacteria living in our gut (also known as the gut microbiome), which in turn affects insulin-resistance and obesity.

Dr. Kahn’s contributions to the field extend further than just his own research. When he first joined the Joslin Research Centre at Harvard University, it consisted of a small research team of five or six people. Under his leadership, the team grew immensely, building up numerous national connections. As the current Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Kahn continues to grow and manage the institute, while finding time to keep pursuing his own lines of research.

Dr. Kahn has been recognized for his groundbreaking work with over 70 awards and honours, including honorary degrees.

— Written by Aaliyah Mulla