Francois Pattou (58y) is professor of Surgery and head of General and Endocrine Surgery at University of Lille (France). He is also leading a multidisciplinary research team (Inserm U1190 -Translational Research on Diabetes) developing innovative diabetes therapies, namely beta cell replacement in T1D and metabolic surgery in T2D.

The recipient of multiple research grants, FP published more than 300 articles (44,000 citations, Google h-Index 100) and mentored 8 PhD. His main contributions to the field include 1) suggesting the major role of primary graft function for metabolic control and graft survival after islet transplantation (Diabetes Care 2009, PMID-19638525), 2) Leveraging intramuscular autotransplantation for direct imaging of functioning human islets with GLP1r tracer New Engl J Med 2010 PMID-20860517) 3) unveiling the role of SGLT2 in human pancreatic alpha cells (Nature Medicine 2015 PMID-25894829), 4) prospective evaluation 10-y outcome of islet allotransplantation (Diabetes Care 2019, PMID-31615852 ), 5) demonstrating the linear and independent association between primary graft function and long term outcomes of islet transplantation in CITR (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2023, PMID-37105208), 6) demonstrating the impact of islet transplantation on overall survival in kidney transplantation recipients (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2024, PMID-39250921). FP became a member of IPITA in Lyon 1991, and has participated in every meeting since then.

Professor Steve White is a Consultant Liver and Pancreas Surgeon at the Freeman Hospital and Newcastle University. His surgical training included rotations in Leicester where he has had an intensive training in total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplantation, working under the supervision of Prof. Ashley Dennison, a world leader in the field.

After his move to Newcastle, Prof. White has been instrumental in developing his new department into one of the leading pancreas and islet of Langerhans transplant centers in the UK. His experience in pancreas transplantation and islet auto- and allo-transplantation, as well as his basic research background in experimental islet transplantation make him a unique candidate for an IPITA councilor position, given his very broad field of expertise.

Prof. White has also been extremely active in advocacy and education work to promote the field of beta-cell replacement at learned society levels, having already served as board member and chair of EPITA, the pancreas/islet section of ESOT.