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| Professor Paul Zimmet Wins Prestigious Novartis Award |
Professor Paul Zimmet |
The Chair of Apollo’s Diabetes Advisory Board and member of its Scientific Advisory Panel, Professor Paul Zimmet, has been awarded the 2007 International Novartis Award for his groundbreaking diabetes research and activism.
The award recognises outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of people with diabetes. It recognises accomplishments by an individual in clinical research, education, and clinical practice that have had a major impact on the field of diabetes mellitus.
The award was presented to Professor Zimmet, who is Director of the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, at the key international diabetes conference – the American Diabetes Association Congress in Chicago late in June.
Professor Zimmet won the US$25,000 prize for his dedication to improving the lives of people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. He has been a life-long researcher and activist for diabetes prevention and is a strong supporter of Apollo’s research into developing an oral form of insulin, calling the Oradel technology “one of the most forward looking and best prospects of an oral insulin.”
Accepting the Award, Professor Zimmet said that he was “delighted to receive this honour and regards the Novartis award as an important international recognition of the achievements of the team at Melbourne’s International Diabetes Institute.”
Professor Zimmet founded the International Diabetes Institute and in 1981 it was designated the first WHO Collaborating Centre for diabetes in the world.
The Institute, under Professor Zimmet, recently reported that the number of people globally with diabetes would escalate from 246 million to 380 million by 2025. He has continually lobbied both Australian and international governments to recognize the looming health crisis of diabetes and obesity, stating in April that “despite the warning signs, most governments have been slow to act. Diabetes is a global epidemic with devastating human and socioeconomic effects.”
Professor Zimmet’s tireless campaigning contributed to both the United Nations declaring diabetes an international public health issue in December 2006 (a status shared with HIV-AIDS) and, in April this year, the Council of Australian Governments established a $200 million fund to fight the disease.
Apollo CEO, John Priest, said that the Novartis Award is recognition of Paul Zimmet’s ongoing commitment to reduce the incidence of diabetes and to help find a cure. “Paul is passionate about ridding the world of diabetes, and we are extremely proud to have him associated with Apollo Life Sciences' vision for needle-free insulin,” he said. |
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