Medical Research Foundation of Oregon Presents 2007 Discovery and Mentor Awards to Distinguished Scientists From UO, OSU, OHSU (November 20, 2007)
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Medical Research Foundation of Oregon, an affiliate of the Oregon Health & Science University Foundation, has announced this year's recipients of its annual Discovery and Mentor Awards honoring leaders in the state's scientific community.
The MRF Discovery Award - recognizing outstanding scholarly achievement by a scientist working at an Oregon research institution - this year will go to two distinguished researchers, Markus Grompe, M.D., director of OHSU's Oregon Stem Cell Center, and John Postlethwait, Ph.D., a University of Oregon neuroscientist. Oregon State University's Kevin Ahern, Ph.D., is the recipient of this year's Mentor Award.
Grompe is a professor of medicine (molecular and medical genetics and pediatrics) in the OHSU School of Medicine. In addition to providing clinical care for patients with genetic diseases, he has made landmark advances in the study of two inborn and fatal errors of metabolism - hereditary tyrosinemia (a childhood liver disease) and Fanconi anemia (a blood disorder). Among his key achievements, Dr. Grompe demonstrated
that bone marrow could be an important source of stem cells for the treatment of liver diseases; pioneered a mouse model for the study of human tyrosinemia, leading to successful therapies and screening techniques for this and other metabolic liver diseases; and cloned the Fanconi anemia gene FANCD2. The latter breakthrough has been hailed as the most significant advancement in the field in recent years. More
recently, Dr. Grompe has developed a line of mice with humanized livers, pathogens such as hepatitis C.
A faculty member in the University of Oregon's Department of Biology since 1971, Dr. Postlethwait has been instrumental in the worldwide acceptance of zebra fish as a model for human health and disease - an idea that originated at the University of Oregon. He developed the first genetic map for zebra fish and mapped the first mutants. His research led to the discovery of a genome duplication in the zebra fish lineage that is shared by all teleost fish. Understanding the consequences of this genomic event has been essential for relating the actions of zebra fish genes to human disease. His team has recently developed mutational
models for Fanconi anemia in zebra fish and is in the process of using these mutants to understand the mechanisms of the disease and to identify small molecules that may serve as candidate therapies. Postlethwait is also a committed teacher, mentor and the author of popular classroom textbooks including The Nature of Life, Explore Life biology text Modern Biology.
This year's Mentor Award honors Oregon State University's Kevin Ahern, Ph.D. As a Senior Instructor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and member of the university's Premedical Committee, Dr. Ahern has played a role in teaching and inspiring thousands of Oregon State students preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, and other health and science professions. Students and colleagues alike consistently laud Dr. Ahern's ingenious and energetic
approach to teaching highly challenging subjects and his engaged, proactive approach to academic advising. His unique commitment to Oregon's medical education pipeline has helped Oregon State's premedical graduates achieve a near-perfect record of medical school acceptance. serves as director of OSU's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program, enhancing the research training and experiences of hundreds of students exploring careers in biomedical science. His passion for science and learning
extends to the international stage, where he contributes lively writings to widely read publications such as Genetic Engineering News and BioTechniques.
The Discovery and Mentor awards were presented at a private ceremony in Portland, where each honoree received a distinctive crystal paperweight and a check for $5,000. University and faculty leaders from OHSU, UO and OSU were on hand to recognize these outstanding scientific accomplishments.
ABOUT THE MRF
The Medical Research Foundation of Oregon was established in the early 1940s to support promising biomedical exploration and the development of research careers in clinical investigation in Oregon. In 1994, the MRF merged with the OHSU Foundation, though it retained its own unique purpose to promote biomedical research at institutions across the state. Through research seed grants and early clinical investigator awards, the MRF invests more than $1 million annually to support exceptional medical
research in Oregon and to acknowledge the work of outstanding
investigators and mentors.
The OHSU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to secure
private philanthropic support for Oregon Health & Science University.
The foundation raises funds from individuals, companies, foundations and
organizations, and invests and manages gifts in accordance with donors'
wishes.
