Anita Roberts
Encyclopedia
Anita B. Roberts was a molecular biologist who made pioneering observations of a protein
, TGF-β, that is critical in healing wounds and bone fractures and that has a dual role in blocking or stimulating cancers. Roberts was the 49th most-cited scientist in the world and the second most-cited female scientist as of 2005.
Roberts was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, where she grew up. She attended Oberlin College
and earned her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1968. After postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School
, Dr. Roberts joined the National Cancer Institute in 1976. From 1995 to 2004, she served as Chief of the institute's Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Carcinogenesis, and continued her research there until her death in 2006 by gastric cancer.
In the early-1980s, Dr. Roberts and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute
, part of the National Institutes of Health
in Bethesda, Maryland
began to experiment with the protein, called TGF-β, short for transforming growth factor beta.
Dr. Roberts isolated the protein from bovine kidney tissue and compared her results with TGF-β taken from human blood
platelets and placental tissue. Institute researchers then began a series of experiments to determine the protein's characteristics. They discovered that it helps play a central role in signaling other growth factors in the body to heal wounds and fractures speedily.
TGF-β was later shown to have an effect on regulation of the heartbeat and the response of the eye to aging.
In later research, Dr. Roberts and others found that TGF-β inhibits the growth of some cancers while stimulating growth in advanced cancers, including cancers of the breast and lung.
Dr. Roberts was a former president of the Wound Healing Society. In 2005, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
Roberts herself was diagnosed cancer, stage IV gastric cancer, in March 2004. She received a degree of fame in the cancer community for her blog
, detailing her daily struggles with the disease.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
, TGF-β, that is critical in healing wounds and bone fractures and that has a dual role in blocking or stimulating cancers. Roberts was the 49th most-cited scientist in the world and the second most-cited female scientist as of 2005.
Roberts was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, where she grew up. She attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
and earned her doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1968. After postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, Dr. Roberts joined the National Cancer Institute in 1976. From 1995 to 2004, she served as Chief of the institute's Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Carcinogenesis, and continued her research there until her death in 2006 by gastric cancer.
In the early-1980s, Dr. Roberts and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
, part of the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
began to experiment with the protein, called TGF-β, short for transforming growth factor beta.
Dr. Roberts isolated the protein from bovine kidney tissue and compared her results with TGF-β taken from human blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
platelets and placental tissue. Institute researchers then began a series of experiments to determine the protein's characteristics. They discovered that it helps play a central role in signaling other growth factors in the body to heal wounds and fractures speedily.
TGF-β was later shown to have an effect on regulation of the heartbeat and the response of the eye to aging.
In later research, Dr. Roberts and others found that TGF-β inhibits the growth of some cancers while stimulating growth in advanced cancers, including cancers of the breast and lung.
Dr. Roberts was a former president of the Wound Healing Society. In 2005, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
.
Roberts herself was diagnosed cancer, stage IV gastric cancer, in March 2004. She received a degree of fame in the cancer community for her blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, detailing her daily struggles with the disease.
Awards and recognition
Dr. Roberts was the recipient of several awards for her contributions to the field of science. These include:- FASEB Excellence in Science AwardFASEB Excellence in Science AwardThe Excellence in Science Award was established by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in 1989 to recognize outstanding achievement by women in biological science. All women who are members of one or more of the societies of FASEB are eligible for nomination...
- 2005 - Leopold Griffuel PrizeLeopold Griffuel PrizeThe Leopold Griffuel Prize is sponsored by the French Association for Cancer Research ....
- Komen Brinker Award for Scientific DistinctionKomen Brinker Award for Scientific DistinctionThe Komen Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction was established by Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1992 to recognize leading scientists for their significant work in advancing research concepts or clinical application in the fields of breast cancer research, screening or treatment.The intent of...
- 2005