Professor Peter Flatt

A University of Ulster academic, who is involved in pioneering diabetes therapy research, has been chosen as the first recipient of a prestigious medical honour.

Professor Peter Flatt, Head of the Diabetes Research Group at UU’s Coleraine campus was awarded the Biochemistry Medal from the Irish Area Section of the Biochemical Society.

The honour was awarded in recognition of Professor Flatt’s ground-breaking research into potential new drugs for the treatment of diabetes and underlines the high quality investigative work in this field conducted at the University.

After receiving his award Professor Peter Flatt said: “I am delighted to have been awarded The Biochemical Society’s Medal in recognition of my contributions to understanding of the biochemistry of diabetes”.

Over the past 30 years, Professor Flatt has built up a strong track record of research achievements and discoveries and is an internationally recognized leader in the diabetes field.  The focus of his prize lecture was emerging novel anti-diabetic drugs based on structural modifications of natural glucose-lowering gut peptides.

These new classes of drugs provide exciting possibilities for diabetes therapy and the Diabetes Research Group at the University of Ulster is one of the leading lights in this particular area of research and development.

Professor Flatt added: “Diabetes is rightly receiving a increase in media attention and, with the rapid global increase in incidence of this condition, it has become a important area of public interest and concern.  Our breakthrough research at the University of Ulster has recently resulted in the formation of Diabetica Limited, which represents an important vehicle to translate our research discoveries into new and effective drugs for Type 2 diabetes and the related conditions, metabolic syndrome and obesity”.

The Biochemical Society is an international learned body whose principal aim is communicating biochemistry internationally.  The Society is involved in numerous activities including providing information and opinion to government, educational establishments and the general public.

Professor Flatt said: “Given the diverse range of disciplines in biochemistry, covering a very broad spectrum of research in life sciences, my receipt of this prestigious award is obviously a great personal honour.  Also, for this reason, this prize represents a very significant and visible mark of the quality of diabetes research at the University of Ulster.”

Professor Flatt’s personal research achievements and discoveries were previously recognised by other awards including the Mary Jane Kugal Award of the Juvenile Diabetes Federation in 1999.  His award of the Biochemical Medal was marked by his prize lecture at a special event hosted by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young