Stanley J. Korsmeyer
Encyclopedia
Dr. Stanley J. Korsmeyer (1951 – March 31, 2005) was an American
oncologist. Through his studies of apoptosis
, Korsmeyer helped develop the concepts of the role of programmed cell death in carcinogenesis
. In 1989 Korsmeyer was among the first to confirm that a particular form of lymphoma arose in certain B cells because they had a genetic flaw that caused them to overexpress a gene, Bcl-2
, that was involved in the body's normal process for getting rid of them. He then conducted a number of studies defining the activity of a number of related genes and their role in apoptosis
.
Korsmeyer obtained a medical doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago
, completed a residency at the University of California Hospitals in California, and then trained at the National Cancer Institute
under Thomas A. Waldmann and Philip Leder
. He then became a tenure
d Professor, first at Washington University and then at Harvard at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
, working within the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
while at both universities. He was widely respected in the field and received numerous prestigious cancer research awards including the Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Research, and the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation Charles S. Mott Prize
. He was an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
, the Institute of Medicine
, and the American Philosophical Society
. The American Society for Clinical Investigation
has established a scientific award in his name. In 2000 he was awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
from Columbia University
.
He has been author on nearly 20 scientific papers published since his death from cancer in 2005--a publication rate that exceeds most living scientists.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
oncologist. Through his studies of apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
, Korsmeyer helped develop the concepts of the role of programmed cell death in carcinogenesis
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. In 1989 Korsmeyer was among the first to confirm that a particular form of lymphoma arose in certain B cells because they had a genetic flaw that caused them to overexpress a gene, Bcl-2
Bcl-2
Bcl-2 is the founding member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulator proteins encoded by the BCL2 gene. Bcl-2 derives its name from B-cell lymphoma 2, as it is the second member of a range of proteins initially described in chromosomal translocations involving chromosomes 14 and 18 in...
, that was involved in the body's normal process for getting rid of them. He then conducted a number of studies defining the activity of a number of related genes and their role in apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
.
Korsmeyer obtained a medical doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
, completed a residency at the University of California Hospitals in California, and then trained 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...
under Thomas A. Waldmann and Philip Leder
Philip Leder
Philip Leder is an American geneticist. He was born in Washington, D.C. and studied at Harvard University, graduating in 1956. In 1960, he graduated from Harvard Medical School....
. He then became a tenure
Tenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
d Professor, first at Washington University and then at Harvard at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana–Farber Cancer Institute is part of a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. It is a major affiliate of Harvard Medical School and is located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts.-Overview:...
, working within the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
while at both universities. He was widely respected in the field and received numerous prestigious cancer research awards including the Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Cancer Research, and the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation Charles S. Mott Prize
Charles S. Mott Prize
The $250,000 Charles S. Mott Prize was awarded annually by the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation. The Mott Prize was one of a trio scientific prizes entirely devoted to cancer research . They were generally considered the most prestigious awards in cancer research...
. He was an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
, and the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
. The American Society for Clinical Investigation
American Society for Clinical Investigation
The American Society for Clinical Investigation, or ASCI, established in 1908, is one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies.-Organization and Purpose:...
has established a scientific award in his name. In 2000 he was awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize for Biology or Biochemistry is an annual prize awarded by Columbia University to a researcher or group of researchers that have made an outstanding contribution in basic research in the fields of biology or biochemistry....
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
He has been author on nearly 20 scientific papers published since his death from cancer in 2005--a publication rate that exceeds most living scientists.