Roger Unger, Endocrinologist and Authority on Diabetes, Dies

The University of Texas Southwestern scientist studied the roles of glucagon and insulin in regulating blood glucose, leading to several successful treatments.

Written byAmanda Heidt

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Roger Unger, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, type 1, type 2, glucagon, insulin, leptin, lipotoxicity, University of Texas Southwestern, endocrinology, hormone, obituary

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Roger Unger, who studied the hormonal underpinnings of diabetes for more than 60 years, died on August 22 at age 96. During his long tenure at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center that ended in July when he retired, he discovered the roles of the hormones glucagon and insulin in controlling blood sugar levels in the body.

Born in 1924 in New York, Unger attended Yale University and Columbia University during his medical training before spending the majority of his professional career at UTSW, where he was one of the longest-serving faculty members. He was the founding director of the Touchstone Diabetes Center, and his work helped elevate the institution to a world leader in the study and treatment of diabetes and related endocrine disorders. For his significant contributions to the field, he was awarded several honors, including the Banting Medal (1975), the Claude Bernard Memorial Medal (1980), ...

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Amanda Heidt
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Amanda first began dabbling in scicom as a master’s student studying marine science at Moss Landing Marine Labs, where she edited the student blog and interned at a local NPR station. She enjoyed that process of demystifying science so much that after receiving her degree in 2019, she went straight into a second master’s program in science communication at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Formerly an intern at The Scientist, Amanda joined the team as a staff reporter and editor in 2021 and oversaw the publication’s internship program, assigned and edited the Foundations, Scientist to Watch, and Short Lit columns, and contributed original reporting across the publication. Amanda’s stories often focus on issues of equity and representation in academia, and she brings this same commitment to DEI to the Science Writers Association of the Rocky Mountains and to the board of the National Association of Science Writers, which she has served on since 2022. She is currently based in the outdoor playground that is Moab, Utah. Read more of her work at www.amandaheidt.com.
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