Former Blantyre High School pupil wins prestigious accolade for diabetes research

Jul 7 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

AN ACADEMIC whose formative years were spent in Blantyre has been awarded a top prize for his work on diabetes.

Naveed Sattar, who attended David Livingstone Primary School and Blantyre High School, is currently the Professor of Metabolic Medicine at Glasgow University.

Professor Sattar was awarded the 2011 Minkowski Prize for published work which has contributed to “the advancement of knowledge about diabetes mellitus”.

The 43-year-old grew up in Blantyre where his father, Abdul, who now runs Uddingston’s Redstones Hotel, had a shop on Farm Road.

Professor Sattar graduated in medicine from Glasgow University in 1990.

He currently conducts research on diabetes and heart disease at the university and also carries out lifestyle trials to prevent or manage obesity and the risks associated with the condition.

He has published more than 300 papers and chaired the Diabetes UK 2011 conference committee.

The Minkowski Prize includes an award of £18,000 and professor Sattar is also required to give the 2011 Minkowski lecture in Portugal later this year to an audience of 5000.

He said this week it was a great honour to receive the accolade.

“It’s such a huge award in terms of recognition. I was surprised, but really delighted.”

Professor Sattar also paid tribute to the group of scientists he leads at Glasgow University.

He pointed out: “We deal with the prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

“I’d like to strengthen the group and I am keen to engage in more clinical trials which help us answer real questions relevant to clinical care in these diseases.

“We have achieved considerable success in the last five years or so, and we are well placed to further improve and remain at the forefront of research.”

Professor Sattar lives in Glasgow with his wife and children, but considers himself to be “a Lanarkshire boy through and through”.

He is a former member of Uddingston Cricket Club and his parents Abdul and Hamida live in Bothwell.

Professor Sattar has great memories of his Blantyre school days.

“It’s true what they say: my school days were the happiest of my life,” he said.

“I played a lot of sports, including rugby. The school had a great rugby team run by PE teacher Mr Aitken.

“I made some great friends at school in Blantyre.

“I visit my family in Bothwell every week and return to Blantyre to see friends at least half a dozen times a year.”