2026 INDUCTEE Bernard Zinman, MDCM Diabetes
April 11, 1943
(Montreal, Quebec)
MDCM, McGill University (1968)
BSc, McGill University (1964)
2025: Honorary Member, European Association for the Study of Diabetes
2022: Officer of the Order of Canada
See All AwardsAwards & Honours:
2025: Honorary Member, European Association for the Study of Diabetes
2022: Officer of the Order of Canada
2020: Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Diabetes Research Award, American Diabetes Association
2017: The Stephen and Suzie Pustil Diabetes Research Award, Mount Sinai Hospital
2015: Laureate Research Award, American College of Physicians Ontario Chapter
2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
2011: Member of the Order of Canada
2009: Novartis Prize in Diabetes Long-standing Achievement Award
2009: Lifetime Achievement Award, Canadian Diabetes Association
2007: Department of Medicine Mentorship Award, University of Toronto
2002: Gerald S. Wong Award, Canadian Diabetes Association
1999: Lloyd S. D. Fogler Award for Research Excellence, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
1999: Frederick G. Banting Award, Canadian Diabetes Association
1994: Charles H. Best Medal for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Diabetes, American Diabetes Association
1994: Department of Medicine Research Award, University of Toronto
1989: Teaching Excellence Award, Toronto General Hospital
1988: Young Scientist Award, Canadian Diabetes Association
1984: William Goldie Prize: Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
1983: Medal in Medicine, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
A global leader in clinical research and treatment of diabetes.
Bernard Zinman, OC, MDCM, is a celebrated clinician scientist whose four decades of contributions have transformed the management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. As a staggering 10% of Canadians live with diagnosed diabetes, Dr. Zinman’s research on treating this disease and preventing related complications has helped countless patients and their families. He was a lead investigator in the landmark DCCT/EDIC trial, which definitively established the role of intensive diabetes control as the new worldwide standard for reducing the long-term disabling complications of type 1 diabetes. Dr. Zinman also led the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. This study marked a paradigm shift in type 2 diabetes care by demonstrating how a diabetes therapy, namely a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, could not only improve glucose control but also dramatically decrease cardiovascular complications and death. Many of Dr. Zinman’s findings have been applied to help address heightened rates of type 2 diabetes in Indigenous communities, including through the Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project, now in its 35th year. Beyond his prodigious scientific output, Dr. Zinman has mentored generations of other Canadian scientists and clinicians, ensuring his fight against the diabetes epidemic will continue for years to come.
Key Facts
Former Director of the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Mount Sinai Hospital and the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, University of Toronto
An international leader in diabetes research and the development of new clinical treatments for diabetes
A lead investigator for the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and its follow-up study, Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC), which showed intensive glucose control reduces complications in type 1 diabetes
Led the EMPA-REG Outcome trial, which demonstrated that a diabetes medication [empagliflozin] can not only improve glucose control but in addition reduce both cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality as well as slow the progression of diabetes kidney complications
Co-established one of the most comprehensive community-based assessments of diabetes in an Indigenous Canadian community
Fun Fact: Loves historical biographies (favourite author, Walter Isaacson), biking (particularly in the Lake Simcoe area) and eating wings while watching sports
Professional timeline
Impact on lives today
Dr. Bernard Zinman’s four decades of research have reshaped the global standards for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. His leadership in the landmark DCCT and EMPA-REG clinical trials proved that intensive glucose control can prevent life-altering complications for those with type 1 diabetes, while his leadership in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial revolutionized type 2 diabetes management, demonstrating that specific medications significantly reduce cardiovascular death and kidney failure. Additionally, his Sandy Lake Project established a model for addressing diabetes in Indigenous communities. Today, his work continues to dictate international clinical guidelines worldwide.
2026
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Dr. Zinman led the EMPA-REG OUTCOME study.
DiabetesThis study demonstrated for the first time that an SGLT2 inhibitor could not only improve glucose control in patients with diabetes but also decrease cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality, which resulted in a paradigm shift in the management of type 2 diabetes.
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Became one of the first proponents of combination therapy initiated early in the course of diabetes
DiabetesDr. Zinman led the Canadian Normoglycemia Outcomes Evaluation (CANOE) trial, which demonstrated that a low-dose combination therapy could reduce the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes by 66%.
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Appointed vice-chair of the DCCT/EDIC Program
After working with the DCCT/EDIC project for several decades, Dr. Zinman was appointed vice-chair of this National Institutes of Health-funded project.
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Founded the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes (LSCD) at Mount Sinai Hospital
DiabetesThe LSCD quickly became a leading centre for the treatment and clinical research of both type 1 and type 2 Diabetes.
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Dr. Zinman established the Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project
The co-founding of this project in northwestern Ontario initiated one of the most comprehensive community-based assessments of diabetes and related metabolic disorders in a specific population. The methodology and insights from this study have since been used across Canada to better understand the risk of diabetes in Indigenous communities.
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Appointment as Director of the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre
Public Health, Health Promotion & Advocacy -
Dr. Zinman co-presented the primary findings of the DCCT trial at the American Diabetes Association
This landmark study demonstrated how intensive glucose control reduces the long-term complications in type 1 diabetes. In doing so, it provided a new standard of care for the management of type 1 diabetes and changed clinical practice guidelines globally. Since its publication, this trial report alone has been cited over 27,500 times.
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Headed the Unified Endocrine Division at Mount Sinai, Toronto Western and Toronto General hospitals.
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Principal investigator of the successfully funded University of Toronto DCCT study
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Graduated with his MDCM from McGill University
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Graduated First Class Honours, Biochemistry
1960
What Dr. Zimman brings is an individual who combined clinical medicine and research in diabetes for 40 years, and in doing so, touched pretty much every element of diabetes care and research in Canada and globally.
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