Dame Frances Mary Ashcroft

Professor Dame Frances Mary Ashcroft is credited with a landmark discovery regarding the molecular mechanism of neonatal diabetes. She described how activating mutations of ATP-sensitive potassium channels impair insulin secretion. This has changed the treatment of these patients from insulin to sulfonylureas, which improved the quality of life and blood glucose control of the patients.

Professor Ashcroft has played an active part in the management of scientific research in the Great Britain and in the continental Europe and served in leading positions on Scientific Committees and Advisory Boards.

Professor Ashcroft is the member of the Royal Society and in 2015 was awarded the title of “Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire” by the Queen. She is a “doctor honoris causa” of 8 universities, including the University of Cambridge, UK and Lund University in Sweden. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the European Laureate of L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Award in 2012, the highest award of the American Diabetes Association, the Banting medal for scientific achievement in 2022 and the Dale Medal, the highest award of the Society for Endocrinology. She also recently received the Manpei Suzuki International Prize for diabetes research.