Professor Mike Lean trained in medicine at Cambridge University and St Barts Hospital, London, before taking up the position of MRC Clinical Scientist in the Cambridge University Dunn Nutrition Unit. In his present position at the University of Glasgow, since 1993, he established the Department of Human Nutrition. It is based on a ‘broad-focus’ strategy toward translational, integrative, research and teaching, encompassing the full range of scientific disciplines within Human Nutrition: basic sciences, epidemiology, clinical studies and community/population-directed interventions. As well as scientific work, outputs include regular writing for the general public in newspapers and TV for Public Understanding of Science.

In this seminar he will discuss the rationale for, and results of, the DiRECT trial which was supported by the biggest research grant ever awarded by Diabetes UK. DiRECT was conducted in primary care and compared an intensive weight loss programme to best-practice care in patients with type 2 diabetes. Remission of diabetes occurred in nearly half the patients allocated to the weight loss programme.