UPDATE: Dr. Snyderman's introduction of Dr. Lefkowitz has been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Robert Lefkowitz, MD, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, received the prestigious 2011 George M. Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians at the annual meeting in Chicago on April 16.
The award was named after George Kober, MD, a pioneer in public health reform in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and recognizes physicians who are leaders in academic medicine. The Kober Medal was presented to Dr. Lefkowitz by Ralph Snyderman, MD, Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Professor of Medicine. (Read the Duke release.)
The Association of American Physicians is a nonprofit professional organization composed of more than 1,000 active members and approximately 600 emeritus and honorary members from the United States, Canada and other countries. Once a year, individuals having attained excellence in advancing medical knowledge are recognized by nomination for membership in the association. Department of Medicine faculty inducted this year were Robert Harrington, MD, professor of medicine (Cardiology) and director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and Laura Svetkey, MD, MHS, professor of medicine (Nephrology) and vice chair for faculty development & diversity.
Dr. Lefkowitz has essentially defined the field of receptor biology through his work with G protein–coupled receptors, the largest and most pervasive family of cell receptors.
Beginning with the β2-adrenergic receptor in 1982, Lefkowitz isolated eight of the nine subtypes of adrenergic receptors and determined their complete amino acid sequences. The β-adrenergic receptors are among the most common G protein–coupled receptors, regulating the body's fight-or-flight response by responding to epinephrine.
Lefkowitz also discovered two new families of proteins that desensitize G protein–coupled receptors—a finding that has helped scientists understand, in molecular terms, how receptors become tolerant to certain drugs. The first is a novel family of enzymes called the G protein–coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) including the β-adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK), and the second is a group of proteins called arrestins. Both protein families, he has shown, are widely distributed, and their actions are not limited to the β-adrenergic receptors.
Lefkowitz is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, member of the National Academy of Sciences and recipient of numerous scientific awards including the National Medal of Science in 2007 (coverage here and here).
Learn more at the Lefkowitz Laboratory of Receptor Biology.
[ilink url="http://aap-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/aap-pres-01.pdf" style="download"]Download Lefkowitz 2001 address to AAP[/ilink] Read the address that Lefkowitz gave to the AAP when he served as president of that association in 2001.
Robert Lefkowitz, MD, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Biochemistry, received the prestigious 2011 George M. Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians at the annual meeting in Chicago on April 16.
The award was named after George Kober, MD, a pioneer in public health reform in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and recognizes physicians who are leaders in academic medicine. The Kober Medal was presented to Dr. Lefkowitz by Ralph Snyderman, MD, Chancellor Emeritus and James B. Duke Professor of Medicine. (Read the Duke release.)
The Association of American Physicians is a nonprofit professional organization composed of more than 1,000 active members and approximately 600 emeritus and honorary members from the United States, Canada and other countries. Once a year, individuals having attained excellence in advancing medical knowledge are recognized by nomination for membership in the association. Department of Medicine faculty inducted this year were Robert Harrington, MD, professor of medicine (Cardiology) and director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and Laura Svetkey, MD, MHS, professor of medicine (Nephrology) and vice chair for faculty development & diversity.
Dr. Lefkowitz has essentially defined the field of receptor biology through his work with G protein–coupled receptors, the largest and most pervasive family of cell receptors.
Beginning with the β2-adrenergic receptor in 1982, Lefkowitz isolated eight of the nine subtypes of adrenergic receptors and determined their complete amino acid sequences. The β-adrenergic receptors are among the most common G protein–coupled receptors, regulating the body's fight-or-flight response by responding to epinephrine.
Lefkowitz also discovered two new families of proteins that desensitize G protein–coupled receptors—a finding that has helped scientists understand, in molecular terms, how receptors become tolerant to certain drugs. The first is a novel family of enzymes called the G protein–coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) including the β-adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK), and the second is a group of proteins called arrestins. Both protein families, he has shown, are widely distributed, and their actions are not limited to the β-adrenergic receptors.
Lefkowitz is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, member of the National Academy of Sciences and recipient of numerous scientific awards including the National Medal of Science in 2007 (coverage here and here).
Learn more at the Lefkowitz Laboratory of Receptor Biology.
[ilink url="http://aap-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/aap-pres-01.pdf" style="download"]Download Lefkowitz 2001 address to AAP[/ilink] Read the address that Lefkowitz gave to the AAP when he served as president of that association in 2001.