Thomas A Buchanan, MD

Thomas A. Buchanan, M.D., is Professor of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Physiology and Biophysics; Vice Dean for Research; Chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes in the Department of Medicine in Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. He is also the founding director of the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

Scientifically, Dr. Buchanan conducts research into the etiology, pathogenesis, genetics and prevention of gestational and type 2 diabetes with a focus on diabetes in Hispanic Americans. Buchanan and colleagues have conducted longitudinal studies of high risk individuals to define patterns of change in insulin resistance and insulin secretion that lead to type 2 diabetes. Based on their findings, they then conducted the first successful type 2 diabetes prevention study in the United States. The biological information gained from that study pointed to a specific pancreatic beta cell defect that is heritable, a finding that formed the basis for a large family based study that has helped to identify the genetic basis for the metabolic abnormalities that lead to type 2 diabetes. In aggregate studies performed by Buchanan and his colleagues have contributed to important advances in clinical care for gestational diabetes and the prevention of type 2 diabetes in Hispanic Americans

Administratively, Dr. Buchanan has championed the development of clinical and translational research at USC, first through his role as director of the General Clinical Research Center (1996-2010). In 2010, he led the team that created the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, which in turn won a prestigious $56.8 million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support and promote scientific discoveries and their application in real-life settings to health and health care. He built and directed one of the nation’s largest General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) programs. Since 2010, he has been director and principal investigator of USC’s new Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI).

During his career, Dr. Buchanan has brought more than $180 million in extramural research funding to USC and the Keck School. He has been ranked as highly 1st at USC and 50th world-wide in annual NIH funding.

Dr. Buchanan received his medical degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, where he completed residency training in internal medicine. He completed his fellowship training in endocrinology and metabolism at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.

A native of Iowa, Dr. Buchanan is an avid cyclist on the challenging Angeles Crest Highway near Los Angeles, a downhill skier and a dedicated family man.

• Iowa State University: Phi Beta Kappa, 1974
• American Diabetes Association, Northern Illinois Affliate: Young Investigator Award, 1983
• University of Iowa: Alpha Omega Alpha, 1978
• American Diabetes Association: Chair, Council on Diabetes and Pregnancy, 1995
   – 1997
• NIH: Chair, Special Emphasis Panel, Hyperglycemia and Pregnancy Outcomes, 1995
   – 1997
• Australian Diabetes Association: Medisense International Lecture, 1995
• Canadian Diabetes Association: Novo-Nordisk International Lecture, 1995
• American Diabetes Association: Norbert Freinkel Award, 1999
• University of Washington: John Ensinck Lecture, 2000
• J Clin Endocrinol Metab: Endocrine Society-Pharmacia Award for Excellence in Published Clinical Research, 2002
• American Diabetes Association: Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award, 2004
• Association of American Physicians: Elected Member, 2006
• Irish Endocrine Society: Lilly Lecture, 2011
• Western Society for Clinical Investigation: Mayo Soley Award, 2014
• University of California, Los Angeles: Josiah Brown Award, 2014
• University of Southern California: Associates Award for Creativity in Research and Scholarship, 2017
• University of Southern California: University Professor of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Physiology and Neuroscience, 2023

• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa — B.S. — 1975 — Zoology
• University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA — M.D. — 1978 — Medicine
• Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix, AZ — 1980 — Internal Medicine
• University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, IA — 1981 — Internal Medicine
• Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL — 1984 — Endocrinology and Metabolism

• Alpha Clinic Network Expansion for Cell and Gene Therapies
  California Institute of Regenerative Medicine · Feb 1, 2023 – Jan 31, 2028 · Role: Principal Director
• Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH/NCATS · UL1TR00185 · Apr 25, 2022 – Mar 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · UL1TR001855 · Jul 1, 2016 – Mar 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Beta Cell Restoration through Fat Mitigation
  NIH · U01DK094430 · Sep 23, 2011 – Jun 30, 2019 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · UL1TR000130 · Jul 1, 2010 – Jul 31, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · KL2TR000131 · Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 31, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · TL1TR000132 · Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 31, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · KL2RR031991 · Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 31, 2015 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · TL1RR031992 · Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 31, 2015 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Los Angeles Basin Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  NIH · UL1RR031986 · Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 31, 2015 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Planning Grant for Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award
  NIH · P20RR023484 · Sep 24, 2006 – Sep 23, 2007 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Genetics of Beta Cell Failure in Mexican Americans
  NIH · R01DK061628 · Apr 1, 2002 – Oct 31, 2014 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes in Latino Women
  NIH · R01DK046374 · Jun 1, 1993 – May 31, 2008 · Role: Principal Investigator

• USC and CHLA awarded $8 million to expand access to cell and gene therapy clinical trials (11/16/2022)
• NIH Awards USC and CHLA $36.6 Million for Clinical and Translational Science (7/8/2016)
• USC expert dispels diabetes myths for Latino audience (10/12/2018)
• USC wins $56.8M NIH award for clinical and translational research (07/15/2010)

• Peters, Anne
• Goran, Michael
• Page, Kathleen
• Watanabe, Richard
• Haiman, Christopher
• Chatzi, Vaia