Sarah Flanagan

Sarah leads the monogenic diabetes research programme in Exeter. She has published >260 papers on monogenic disorders of insulin secretion, has delivered over 50 invited lectures around the world, and has received multiple highly prestigious international research prizes in recognition of her contributions to diabetes, metabolism and genetics. These include the European Association for the Study of Diabetes-SGGD Rising Star award 2015, the GB Morgagni Award 2018, the Genetics Society Balfour Lecture 2019, the 2023 Be My Sugar Top Researcher award and the 2025 Starling Medal.

As a post-doctoral fellow Sarah spent time at the Wessex Regional Genetics laboratory learning molecular techniques to screen for methylation disorders and the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at the University of Oxford, where under the supervision of Dame Professor Frances Ashcroft, she learnt how to perform electrophysiology studies to investigate K-ATP channel function.

In 2015, Sarah was awarded a Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship which allowed her to develop a programme of research focussing on the genetics of Congenital Hyperinsulinism. In 2021, the award of a Wellcome Trust Senior Researcher Fellowship enabled her to continue this work. She was one of 20 female academics to participate in the first SUSTAIN Academy of Medical Sciences Leadership Programmes and was awarded a Personal Chair in 2023.

In 2018, her team partnered with Congenital Hyperinsulinism International and the NHS Genomics Laboratory to provide free genetic testing for any child born with the condition who is unable to access genetics through their own healthcare providers. This partnership has enable over 1000 children from 63 countries around the world to receive genetic testing in Exeter leading to improved medical management of their condition. Further details regarding this partnership can be found on her team website,