Rate My Professor Thomas Buchanan

His research specializes in the etiology, pathogenesis, genetics, and prevention of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes, focusing on Hispanic Americans. Buchanan and his team have conducted longitudinal studies on high-risk individuals, delineating changes in insulin resistance and secretion that precipitate type 2 diabetes. They led the first successful U.S. type 2 diabetes prevention study, identifying heritable pancreatic beta-cell defects that underpin genetic investigations into metabolic abnormalities predisposing to diabetes. These efforts have significantly advanced clinical management of gestational diabetes and prevention strategies for type 2 diabetes in Hispanic populations. Key publications include "What Is Gestational Diabetes-Really?" (Diabetes, 2025), "Genetic drivers of heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology" (Nature, 2024), "Genome-wide association study and functional characterization identifies candidate genes for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake" (Nature Genetics, 2023), and "Associations among prenatal exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus, brain structure, and child adiposity markers" (Obesity, 2023). Administratively, he directed USC's General Clinical Research Center from 1996 to 2010 and has led the SC CTSI since 2010, securing a $56.8 million NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award and over $180 million in total extramural funding. Buchanan has received numerous accolades, including the USC Associates Award for Creativity in Research (2017), the Mayo H. Soley Award (2014), the American Diabetes Association's Norbert Freinkel Award (1999) and Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award (2004), and election to the Association of American Physicians (2006).