Professor André Scheen is a distinguished clinician-scientist renowned for his pioneering contributions to diabetology and metabolic medicine across a remarkable four-decade career. He served as Head of the Department of Diabetology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology Unit at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège, establishing himself as a leading authority in diabetes care within the Belgian medical community. After completing his medical education and early clinical training, Professor Scheen dedicated his career to advancing diabetes research and treatment protocols at the University of Liège, where he developed a dual expertise that bridged clinical practice and pharmaceutical science. His leadership roles included significant contributions to public health initiatives such as the Semaine du Coeur, where he shared his expertise on cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients with both medical professionals and the general public.
Professor Scheen's scholarly work has profoundly influenced the understanding and management of Type 2 diabetes, which he identified as a critical public health challenge requiring dedicated research attention after his initial work on Type 1 diabetes technologies. His early investigations during the 1980s into human insulins, insulin pumps, and artificial pancreas systems laid important groundwork for subsequent diabetes management innovations, with numerous publications documenting these emerging technologies. Later shifting his primary research focus to Type 2 diabetes, he has published extensively on therapeutic approaches and clinical pharmacology, including significant contributions to understanding SGLT2 inhibitors for heart failure treatment without hypoglycemia risk as documented in his 2022 therapeutic vignette. His research has directly informed clinical practice guidelines and therapeutic decision-making for diabetes care throughout Belgium and beyond, demonstrating his ability to translate complex pharmacological principles into practical clinical applications.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Scheen has played a pivotal role in medical education through his long-standing academic appointments at the University of Liège, where he has mentored generations of physicians and researchers in diabetology and clinical pharmacology. His continued scholarly engagement as Professor Emeritus demonstrates his enduring commitment to advancing medical knowledge, with recent publications focusing on therapeutic education for medical students and practical clinical applications. Professor Scheen's integrative approach to diabetes care, combining pharmacological expertise with clinical practice, has established him as a respected thought leader whose work continues to shape diabetes management strategies. His legacy endures through his substantial body of research, his educational contributions, and his influence on diabetes care protocols that benefit countless patients managing this complex metabolic condition.
