Page 16 - Abacoa Community News - December '20

Page 16, Abacoa

FAU Features from page 14 the industry have made a lasting impact on the biotechnology of California at Berkeley, where he was involved in the
industry. He couldn’t be more deserving of this year’s discovery of the coenzyme form of vitamin B12.
Herbert Weissbach Receives BioFlorida Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Nancy K. investigator where he initiated studies on the role of vitamin B12
In 1959, Weissbach returned to the NIH as an independent
Bryan, president and CEO of BioFlorida.
Bioflorida’s ‘Lifetime Weissbach joined FAU in 1997 as distinguished research in methionine biosynthesis – research that helped to elucidate the
Achievement Award’ professor, where he founded and served as director of the known inter-relationship among vitamin B12, folic acid and one
carbon metabolism. The studies on methionine synthesis led to
CMBB for 20 years. The CMBB continues to grow with
Weissbach’s vision to produce a talented workforce to build his collaboration with the Nirenberg laboratory at the NIH shortly
Hundreds of life science Florida’s biotech industry. In 2017, he was appointed as after Nirenberg cracked the genetic code. In 1968, Nirenberg was
industry leaders recently distinguished research professor emeritus. awarded the Nobel Prize.
convened virtually to “Dr. Weissbach epitomizes the values and commitment By 1967, the Weissbach laboratory was deeply involved
participate in BioFlorida’s we seek in an innovator and a biotechnology and life in protein synthesis (translation), at which time he accepted a
annual conference, which sciences leader. His lifetime achievements have made an position as associate director of the Roche Institute of Molecular
addressed trending topics for enduring impact on the industry not only in Florida but all Biology (RIMB), which he helped to found with Udenfriend.
Florida’s life science industry over the world,” said Daniel C. Flynn, Ph.D., FAU’s vice In 1983, Weissbach became director of the RIMB and a vice
including rare diseases and president for research. “We are extremely proud of this president of research at Hoffmann-La Roche in New Jersey.
medical technology with a well-deserved recognition for Dr. Weissbach and for his The RIMB was involved in the very early days of the emergence
special focus on COVID-19. numerous discoveries and contributions in research including of the biotechnology industry and was instrumental in helping
BioFlorida is the voice of his research on protein synthesis and oxidative damage.” Hoffmann-La Roche enter this field. Weissbach described this
Florida’s life sciences industry, Weissbach is a member of the National Academy of period at Roche in a book he co-authored with David Fisher in
representing 6,700 establishments and research organizations Sciences, a charter fellow of the National Academy of 2016 titled, A Camelot of the Biomedical Sciences: The Story of
in BioPharma, MedTech, HealthIT and BioAg that collectively Inventors, and the American Academy of Microbiology. For the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology.
employ nearly 94,000 Floridians. a 15-year period (1961 to 1976) he was one of the top 300
Among this year’s conference award recipients was Herbert most cited scientists in his field. Unzipping Genes
Weissbach, Ph.D., professor emeritus in Florida Atlantic He has authored/co-authored more than 465 scientific
University’s Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology publications. His most recent research has involved Students in Florida Atlantic University’s first course-based
(CMBB), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry within understanding the mechanisms that cells use to protect against undergraduate research experience (CURE) recently explored
the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at FAU’s John D. oxidative damage, based on his laboratory’s discovery that unlocking the genetic puzzles of one of nature’s unique
MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. Weissbach received BioFlorida’s cells have a mechanism to protect against oxidative damage creatures: Mexican cavefish.
“Lifetime Achievement Award,” reserved to recognize to methionine residues in proteins. He currently serves as a These cavefish sleep very little, don’t become stressed and
outstanding leadership in the industry throughout an individual’s scientific advisor to NutraPharm Health LLC, a company tend to binge eat. Their evolved distinctive traits are linked
career and for significant contributions to industry growth. developing drugs to protect against oxidative damage. He to diseases such as obesity,
“Dr. Herbert Weissbach’s many accomplishments recently founded Prolindox Inc., a company focused on diabetes and insomnia. The
as a professor emeritus at FAU, a National Academy of developing a therapy to treat a genetic blinding disease. ultimate goal in this first-of-
Science member, and author or co-author of 465 scientific “It is truly an honor to have been selected to receive its-kind course is to identify
publications combined with his passion and endless drive for BioFlorida’s Lifetime Achievement Award from my the candidate genes that
outstanding colleagues and peers,” said Weissbach. “Whatever play an important role in the
cavefish’s evolution.
I have contributed to science throughout my career is due to the
Three Ways To many talented students, postdoc and colleagues from around at FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter is led by
The advanced course at the new STEM Training Hub
the world that I have had the good fortune to work with.”
Give The Gift Of majoring in chemistry from the City College of New York, Bethany Stanhope, Ph.D., the executive director for academic
After graduating with his B.S. degree in 1953 and
operations of FAU’s Jupiter Campus, and Johanna Kowalko,
Reading Weissbach was recruited by Sidney Udenfriend, Ph.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of biology in FAU’s Harriet L.
Wilkes Honors College.
to the National Heart Institute of the National Institutes

of Health (NIH) to enter a new joint graduate program
Stanhope and Kowalko are part of a team of researchers
between the NIH and George Washington University. He at FAU who have studied this single species of fish that has
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D., received his Ph.D. from George Washington University become an important model for understanding the genetic
School Psychologist (Thesis: Studies on 5-Hydroxyindole Metabolism, 1957) basis of trait evolution, Stanhope said.
Give the gift of reading based on research done at the NIH in the Udenfriend Students are trained in the latest gene-editing technologies,
to your child this holiday laboratory. In 1958, the NIH supported his postdoctoral
season. Many elementary studies done with H.A. Barker, Ph.D., at the University FAU Features on page 17
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