Meet the Canadian who just won Israel’s top science prize for his diabetes-treatment breakthrough 

The Wolf Prize could bring Dr. Daniel J. Drunker a Nobel next.
Dr. Daniel J. Drucker
Dr. Daniel J. Drucker, a Toronto researcher, helped revolutionize treatment for millions of diabetics around the world, and now has just won Israel's Wolf Prize. (Sinai Health photo)

Dr. Daniel J. Drucker was sitting in his research lab at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital when his name was announced from the Israel’s President’s residence that he’d won Israel’s Wolf Prize, a Nobel-like award given to scientists and artists who help the world. Drucker is only the 11th Canadian to win the prestigious award since its inception in 1978, and some people think it also gives him a good chance to nab the real Nobel.

Drucker, the Canadian son of Holocaust survivors, is credited for discovering how certain hormones in the body help stimulate insulin to lower blood sugar. His work prompted a batch of new drugs to treat Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, thus helping millions of patients around the world.

Nowadays, these drugs—including the popular Ozempic brand you might have heard of—are also being used for treating obesity, and potentially could work for diseases of the heart and brain, including Alzheimer’s, MS and Parkinson’s. Drucker joins The CJN Daily to explain why.

What we talked about

 Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.

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