The UT A.C. Mullins Professor of Translational Research, Malak Kotb, PhD, was recently presented the 2004 American Diabetes Association’s Researcher of the Year award by the Memphis chapter.
The University of Tennessee A.C. Mullins Professor of Translational Research, Malak Kotb, PhD, was recently presented the 2004 American Diabetes Association’s Researcher of the Year award by the Memphis Chapter. The award recognizes an individual annually for his/her outstanding contributions to diabetes research.
Dr. Kotb, who also serves as director of UT’s biodefense research program and translational research, joined the UT Health Science Center faculty in 1987 as an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. In 1990 she joined the Department of Surgery to direct the Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics program.
During her tenure at UT, Dr. Kotb has established a research program that focuses on explaining the molecular basis for the role of specific host immunogenetic “factors” in infectious diseases, post-infection autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation.
A main focus of the translational research program she established in the Transplant Division was in the area of human Islet transplantation as a potential cure for diabetes. Her research led to improved recovery and survival of transplanted human islet cells.
Dr. Kotb has served on several study sections with the Veterans Administration and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Currently, she chairs the Immunological Sciences (special emphasis group) study section and the newly established Immunity and Host Defense/Biodefense study section for the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.