Philip E. Cryer, MD
Dr. Philip E. Cryer

DR. PHILIP E. CRYER PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 24, 2024. READ THE FORMAL OBITUARY.

In 1965, Philip E. Cryer arrived at Barnes Hospital as a house officer in medicine. After house staff training, a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism, and two years at the Naval Medical Research Institute of Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Cryer became Chief Resident in Medicine at Barnes. Soon after, joining Washington University in 1971 as a an Instructor. In 1981, he rose to the rank of Professor of Medicine and served as the Irene E. and Michael M. Karl Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism from 1985 until he became Emeritus in 2014. From 1973 to 2006, Dr. Cryer headed the Washington University General Clinical Research Center, leading it through six NIH site visits. He served as Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism from 1985 to 2002.

Read more about Dr. Philip E. Cryer’s story, here.

Most Recent Lecture

Thursday, October 13, 2022 8:00 am

“Hypoglycemia Associated Autonomic Failure and Reversal in Type 1 Diabetes”

Michael R. Rickels, MD, MS
Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Dr. Rickels is the Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Rickels completed his undergraduate degree in mathematics and biology at Colgate University and medical and translational research degrees at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also trained in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. He has since remained at Penn, currently holding appointments as Medical Director for the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplant Program since 2008, Director of the Translational Research Program in the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism since 2013, Associate Director for the Center for Human Phenomic Science since 2013, Director of the Radioimmunoassay & Biomarkers Core for the Diabetes Research Center since 2015, and Director of Clinical Science in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism since 2020.

Dr. Rickels conducts patient-oriented diabetes research that aims at understanding the pathogenesis of various forms of diabetes and the in vivo mechanisms of new diabetes treatments and in particular focuses on islet function and replacement in type 1 diabetes and pancreatogenic forms of diabetes such as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Present work in type 1 diabetes is aimed at understanding the mechanisms of defective glucose counterregulation and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia and novel approaches to the prevention or correction of hypoglycemia, including by islet transplantation or artificial pancreas (closed loop) technology. Present work in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes is directed at understanding the pathophysiology of impaired insulin secretion and the impact on glucose tolerance of different strategies for enhancing incretin hormone effects on islet function.

Dr. Rickels’ research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health where he has served as a permanent member of the Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity Study Section (2014-2018), and on the Restore Insulin Secretion DSMB (2012-2019; chair, 2018-2019). Dr. Rickels chaired the metabolics study subcommittee for the NIH-sponsored Clinical Islet Transplantation Consortium (2004-2018), has chaired the publications and presentations committee for the NIH-sponsored Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry since 2010, served as vice-chair for the Helmsley-sponsored Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Clinic Network and Registry (2015-2019), and presently serves as co-chair for the Helmsley-sponsored Type 1 Diabetes Exercise Initiative since 2017. Dr. Rickels has served as an elected councilor for the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (2015-2021), as member of the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions planning committee (2012-2014; 2020-2022), and on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2009-2013), Cell Transplantation since 2009, as Associate Editor of Endocrine Reviews (2015-2018), and currently as Associate Editor of Diabetes Care since 2022.