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Barbara Kahn, MD

Vice Chair for Research Strategy and Professor
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA, United States

Barbara Kahn is the George Minot Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Vice-Chair for Research Strategy in the Medicine Department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Associate Director of the Boston Area Diabetes Research Center. She is recognized internationally for her scientific discoveries illuminating the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity and Type 2 diabetes, including the regulation of insulin sensitivity, adipocyte biology, and intertissue communication.
Dr. Kahn’s seminal studies demonstrated that adipocytes are master regulators of whole-body insulin-sensitivity. Her pioneering work showed that GLUT4 glucose transporters are down-regulated in adipose-tissue but not in muscle in insulin-resistant states and that adipose-GLUT4 impacts systemic metabolism. She discovered adipose-secreted molecules that alter insulin sensitivity and Type 2 diabetes risk including, with collaborator Alan Saghatelian, a novel class of signaling lipids (FAHFAs) with anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory actions. These lipids are tightly linked with insulin-sensitivity in humans and also dramatically reduce Type 1 diabetes risk in mice.
Dr. Kahn served as Chief of the Diabetes Unit and of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at BIDMC. She served on the NIDDK/NIH Advisory Council, Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association and on multiple Endocrine Society committees and boards.
Dr. Kahn is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She received the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award, Albert Renold Award for outstanding mentoring, and Banting Medal, the highest award bestowed by the American Diabetes Association. She received the Gerald Aurbach and Roy Greep Awards from the Endocrine Society and the Excellence in Science Lifetime Achievement Award from FASEB. She is dedicated to training the next generation of Endocrine scientists.

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