Susan Bonner-Weir

Susan Bonner-Weir is a Senior Investigator at Joslin Diabetes Center and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She holds the Diabetes Research and Wellness Chair and has dedicated over 35 years to studying the endocrine pancreas, focusing on β-cell dynamics in health and disease.

• Ph.D. in Biology, Case Western Reserve University
• Graduate, Rice University

Her research spans three core areas:

• Islet architecture and its functional implications
• Regulation of β-cell mass and function
• Lifespan changes in β-cell phenotype

She has pioneered work on adult pancreatic progenitor cells, β-cell senescence, and thyroid hormone-driven maturation, with implications for diabetes therapy.

Recent work highlights her discovery of β-cell heterogeneity across life stages and the role of metabolic stress in accelerating aging. Her lab’s studies on the Joslin 50-Year Medalist cohort revealed persistent insulin-positive cells in type 1 diabetes, suggesting ongoing neogenesis countered by autoimmunity.

Notable awards include:

• AAAS Fellow (2012)
• Helmholtz Diabetes Award (2021)

Her contributions to peer-reviewed publications (over 210) and editorial boards across endocrinology and diabetes journals underscore her leadership in the field. Collaborative efforts with institutions like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital further amplify her impact.