Introducing LDC's new Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Shahrad Taheri

Professor Shahrad Taheri.

The Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) welcomed Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Sharad Taheri, this autumn. Shahrad joined Leicester from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. 

Professor Taheri's work is focussed on the prevention of diabetes and gestational diabetes and the personalisation of treatment with a focus on obesity. He has extensive experience in leading large multi-disciplinary clinical and research teams, has won several awards for his research and clinical care and is ranked amongst the top 2% of scientists in the world. 

Professor Taheri’s research was one of the first to show that sleep duration is associated with obesity; increasing recognition of sleep as an important lifestyle factor. His internationally acclaimed research in Qatar and the first clinical trial aiming at reversing diabetes in the Middle East showed that it is possible to reverse type 2 diabetes in a significant number of patients through intensive lifestyle intervention. 

While Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Professor Taheri also held the roles of Senior Consultant in Endocrinology at Hamad Medical Corporation and Director of the National Obesity Treatment Centre at the Qatar Metabolic Institute where he led the multidisciplinary care of patients with obesity and its complications.

On his return to the UK he said: "Leicester is highly regarded around the world for advancing our understanding of obesity and diabetes and their treatment, and I am delighted to be part of its future. Over the coming months I will be presenting at a number of conferences in the Middle East and Gulf states as well as developing my future research with my exceptional colleagues here in Leicester."

Professor Taheri will be part of the NIHR Leicester BRC's Lifestyle theme and will be clinically based in University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Trusts, also part of the BRC.