Alan Attie, professor in the Department of Biochemistry, has been recognized as a Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Named Professor, one of ten professors receiving the distinguished honor this year. Support for the Henry and Annrita Lardy Professor of Biochemistry is provided by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), with funding from WARF. The awards, which each include $100,000, honor faculty who have made major contributions to the advancement of knowledge through their research endeavors and their teaching and service activities.
Attie has devoted his career to advancing our knowledge of diabetes and metabolism. He has made great strides in understanding metabolic pathways and the genetic basis of conditions such as diabetes and Tangier Disease.
His early work was foundational in improving our understanding of how lipids move and are metabolized. Later, his research focus shifted to the genes associated with type 2 diabetes, and he and his lab identified multiple ways that biochemical processes can be altered and result in illness. Interested in the relationship between obesity and diabetes — and why obesity does not always lead to the development of diabetes — Attie identified genes associated with obesity-induced diabetes. He continues to investigate metabolic disease, dissecting the genetic basis of dietary responses and identifying blood markers and phenotypes associated with disease.
Attie’s dedication as a researcher extends beyond the bench to his commitment as a mentor and educator, preparing future scientists for their careers. Emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, he has trained nearly 50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. And by encouraging dialogue and interaction among students and mentors, Attie in the classroom and the lab fosters learning by helping students establish a deep connection to the science of metabolic disease.
Henry Lardy was a professor in the Department of Biochemistry from 1945-1988, where he studied pathways of cellular metabolism. He and his wife, Annrita, were longtime supporters of the biochemical sciences and remained pillars of the UW–Madison community until their deaths in 2010 and 2017, respectively.
“I am deeply honored to be named a WARF professor. Scientific discovery is fundamentally a team endeavor, and I owe this recognition to the many extraordinary people who have contributed to our work,” says Attie. “I am especially grateful to the talented individuals who have devoted years — often decades — to research in my laboratory, as well as the brilliant graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduates who have enriched our efforts. I’ve also been fortunate to collaborate with an outstanding network of scientists from across the country, whose insight and generosity have been invaluable.”
Learn more about this year’s WARF Named Professorship recipients here.
Written by Renata Solan.