Dr. Ralph DeFronzo is a distinguished physician-scientist and internationally recognized authority in diabetes research and treatment. He currently holds the prestigious Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Distinguished Chair in Diabetes at UT Health San Antonio's Long School of Medicine, where he serves as Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Diabetes Division, and Deputy Director of the Texas Diabetes Institute. A graduate of Yale University with degrees in biology and biochemistry, Dr. DeFronzo earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School before completing his internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He further refined his expertise through fellowships in Endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health and Baltimore City Hospitals, followed by Nephrology training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. After establishing his research career at Yale University School of Medicine from 1975 to 1988, he transitioned to his current leadership roles at UT Health San Antonio, where he has shaped diabetes care for over three decades.
Dr. DeFronzo has pioneered fundamental concepts that transformed our understanding of diabetes pathophysiology, most notably establishing insulin resistance as the defining characteristic of Type 2 diabetes. His groundbreaking research utilizing the euglycemic insulin clamp technique helped define the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying insulin resistance, laying the foundation for modern diabetes therapeutics. He led the U.S. development of metformin, which became the first-line medication for diabetes treatment following FDA approval in 1995, revolutionizing care for millions worldwide. More recently, Dr. DeFronzo discovered the therapeutic potential of SGLT2 inhibitors, a novel class of drugs that target glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, which led to the development and approval of dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and canagliflozin. With over 800 peer-reviewed publications, his work has had extraordinary clinical impact, fundamentally altering diabetes management protocols and establishing new paradigms for understanding metabolic disorders.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. DeFronzo has been instrumental in training generations of endocrinologists and diabetes specialists, mentoring countless physicians and scientists who now lead diabetes programs across the country. He remains at the forefront of innovation, recently collaborating with Dr. Bruno Doiron on groundbreaking research that shows promise for a potential cure for type 1 diabetes, currently undergoing development through large animal studies. As a highly sought-after speaker at major national and international conferences, he continues to shape the global discourse on diabetes prevention and treatment. Dr. DeFronzo's current research focuses on advancing personalized approaches to diabetes management while exploring novel therapeutic targets that address both the metabolic and cardiovascular complications of the disease, ensuring his enduring influence on the field for years to come.
