Professor of Biology Philip Rea Wins Neal Award for Scientific Journalism

Philip Rea, Professor of Biology and Belldegrun Distinguished Director of the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences & Management, won the Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Technical/Scientific Content for his article “Gliflozins for Diabetes: From Bark to Bench to Bedside,” published in American Scientist. He was one of just 68 people recognized in 27 categories, from Best Instructional Content to Best Editorial Use of Data.
 
Gliflozins are medications that treat type 2 diabetes by targeting the kidney and lowering blood glucose levels. They got their name from the discovery of a glucoside—a molecule that includes a chemical bond between a sugar and a hydroxy—originally isolated from the bark of apple tree roots nearly 200 years ago. In his piece, Rea, a biochemist, plant biologist, and science communicator, outlines how fundamental basic research led to translational work that eventually resulted in the development of this class of “blockbuster” oral medications for diabetes, one of most commonly prescribed classes of medications today.
 
The Neal Awards, given out by the Software & Information Industry Association, recognize excellence in business journalism and content creation, honoring “the brightest, most tenacious, and innovative journalists, content creators, and designers for their passion and exceptional work.”