Peter Agre
Peter Agre | |
---|---|
Aquaporins | |
Awards | Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2003) Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships (2014) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Medicine Chemistry Biochemistry |
Institutions | Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute Duke University Case Western Reserve |
Peter Agre (
Biography
Agre is the second of six children born in
Agre graduated from Roosevelt High School (Minnesota)[8] before he received his B.A. in Chemistry from Augsburg University in Minneapolis and his M.D. in 1974 from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. From 1975 to 1978 he completed his clinical training in Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve University's Case Medical Center under Charles C.J. Carpenter. He subsequently did a Hematology-Oncology fellowship at North Carolina Memorial Hospital of UNC Chapel Hill. In 1981, Agre returned to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to join the lab of Vann Bennett in the Department of Cell Biology.[7]
In 1984, Agre was recruited onto the faculty of the Department of Medicine led by
Professional awards
In addition to the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Agre was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences in 2000, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003, the American Philosophical Society in 2004,[10] the National Academy of Medicine in 2005, and the American Society for Microbiology in 2011.[11][12] Agre has received 19 honorary doctorates from universities around the world, including Japan, Norway, Greece, Mexico, Hungary, and the United States.[12]
In 2004, Agre received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[13] In February 2014, he was named a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University for his accomplishments as an interdisciplinary researcher and excellence in teaching the next generation of scholars.[14] The Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships were established in 2013 by a gift from Michael Bloomberg.[15]
Personal life
Agre and his wife Mary have been married since 1975, and have three daughters, one son, and two young granddaughters.
"I identify more with Huckleberry Finn than with Albert Einstein," he told Scouting magazine.[20]
Agre is known among science students for his humanity and humility.[21] He appeared on The Colbert Report, discussing his role as a founding member of Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA), sound science in politics, and the decline of American knowledge of science, among other topics.
Biomedical research
As a Johns Hopkins medical student in the early 1970s, Agre worked in the labs of Brad Sack and
Aquaporins
While studying
Teaming up with William Guggino at the Department of Physiology at Johns Hopkins, Agre's postdoctoral fellow Gregory Preston confirmed water channel function by expressing the cRNA in
Agre's team and others identified paralogs in different tissues, and twelve
2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
In October 2003, it was announced that the Nobel Prize in Chemistry would go to two medical doctors, Peter Agre and Roderick MacKinnon, "for discoveries concerning channels in cell membranes." Credited for discovery of the aquaporin water channels, Agre was in bed at 5:30 am when the call came from Stockholm. Upon learning the news later, his mother responded, "That's very nice but don't let it go to his head."[28] MacKinnon, credited with solving the structure and selectivity of potassium channels, was traveling back from a weekend fishing trip and only learned the news from colleagues.
Malaria
Long interested in diseases of the developing world,
Fieldwork in rural Africa is central to the JHMRI mission. A long-term partnership was initiated in 2003 with Macha Research Trust, a faith-based research program led by Dr. Philip Thuma that is affiliated with a former mission hospital in rural southern Zambia. With resources from JHMRI, a small modern research campus was constructed where African scientists and visiting scientists from Johns Hopkins are studying malaria drug resistance, mosquito insecticide resistance, and rates of malaria transmission. Since introduction of artemisinin combination therapy in 2003 and distribution of insecticide treated bed nets in 2007, the burden of malaria in small children has declined in Macha by 96%.[32]
Receipt of an International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research Award (ICEMR) from the US
Science diplomacy
While serving from 2009 to 2011 as president and chair of the board of advisors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Agre became very active in the AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy. Working with AAAS Chief International Officer, Vaughan Turekian, and former Scientific Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of State, Norman P. Neureiter, Agre led a series of science diplomacy visits to countries with adversarial relationships to the U.S.[34] The objective of each trip was to foster exchanges and collaborations on peaceful scientific projects and thereby reduce tensions.[27][35]
Cuba
The governments of Cuba and the US have maintained a hostile relationship made worse by the embargo that prevented the import of essential goods, equipment and even medicines. The inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009 led to a liberalized interpretation of restrictions by the U.S. government allowing scientific and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
In November 2009, Agre made the first of six trips to Cuba when he led a group of scientists from AAAS to Havana. Two years later, Agre led an extensive series of visits to the
Despite animosities, Cuba and the U.S. have had a long tradition of scientific interactions that dated from 1900. The outbreak of
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
A meeting occurred with the leadership of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), a private university founded by a Korean-born American businessman. The only English language university in DPRK, PUST draws outstanding undergraduate and graduate students from DPRK and volunteer faculty from abroad.[40] Opening in 2010, PUST is the only campus where westerners can mingle with students in DPRK. Agre provided keynote plenary lectures to the first International Science Symposium at PUST in 2011 and the third symposium in 2015. Invited to participate in a tour of multiple DPRK universities by four Nobel Laureates in 2016, Agre was unable to attend due to a hospitalization. It would have been his fourth trip to the country.[41]
Myanmar (Burma)
A visit by Agre and the AAAS Science Diplomacy team to Myanmar occurred in April 2010. Travel was made to the new capital, Naypyidaw, for formal meetings with the Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Health to discuss malaria. A meeting with faculty of University of Yangon was also held. Despite continued existence of the junta, an impending transition was evident, as meetings with the opposition were arranged in Yangon.[42] Although Aung San Suu Kyi was unavailable as she was still under house arrest, her release occurred six months later, and Myanmar has made solid progress towards liberal democracy.[43]
Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran)
Meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi at the New York residence of the Iranian Ambassador to the UN resulted in a June 2012 visit to Tehran by Agre and Norman P. Neureiter. Salehi, a PhD graduate of MIT and former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, arranged for lectures in multiple universities in Tehran where Agre was appointed visiting professor at the Sharif University of Technology and a private meeting was held with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[44]
Political activism
Thomas Butler Case
As Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the
2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate race
In the spring of 2007, Agre announced that he would explore the US Senate race in his home state of Minnesota being contested by two residents originally from New York – incumbent Sen.
Despite polls indicating that he could win, Agre announced in August 2007 that he would not enter the race for the Minnesota Senate seat, calculating the huge personal cost and the termination of his federally funded scientific research program and humanitarian service.[50][51] An advocate for increased representation of science in government, he would not rule out the possibility of seeking public office in the future.[52]
Although Barack Obama carried Minnesota by a landslide, the senate election was a statistical tie resulting in a recount and six months of legal fights before the Minnesota Supreme Court awarded Al Franken the victory by only 312 votes out of 2.9 million ballots cast. The outcome was important as Franken was sworn in as Senator in July 2009 and provided the 60th vote necessary to end debate on the Affordable Care Act.
Other activism
In addition to being a founding member of
Agre criticized many policies of the Bush administration. "The Bush administration has been a disaster for the environment. They're playing Russian roulette by not signing the
He has said that he admired Linus Pauling, another Nobel laureate and peace activist.[54]
Agre served on the transition team for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, helping forge science policy and answers to scientific policy questions posed by Science Debate 2008.[55]
In 2015, Agre signed the
See also
References
- ^ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2003". www.nobelprize.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Peter Agre on Nobelprize.org including the Nobel Lecture Aquaporin Water Channels
- ^ Earl Lane (2010). "Agre, Pickering: Science Diplomacy a "Critical Tool" in U.S. Foreign Policy". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "Peter Agre". www.nndb.com. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Mirsky, Steve. "Nobel Laureate Peter Agre: From Aquaporins to Lutefisk". Scientific American. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ P. Agre, (May 2, 2008), lecture presented in Cellular Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
- ^ a b c "Peter Agre – Biographical". www.nobelprize.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Minnesota native wins Nobel Prize for chemistry", Minnesota Public Radio, October 8, 2003, retrieved December 8, 2008
- ^ "Nobel Laureate Peter Agre to Lead Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. October 24, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
- ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter A" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ a b asmadmin. "ASM Conference on Streptococcal Genetics". academy.asm.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "With Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships, Johns Hopkins aims to foster cross-specialty collaboration 2014". February 17, 2014.
- ^ "Michael R. Bloomberg Commits $350 Million to Johns Hopkins for Transformational Academic Initiative 2013".
- ^ Lupton, Neil (2005). "Scouts-L Youth Group List". Listerv. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- ^ Daniel, Douglass K. (2004). "Scouter Peter Agre Places a Nobel Prize Alongside His Eagle Award (with photo of both)". Scouting Magazine. Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- ^ "Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Profile – Dr. Peter Agre". Eagletter. 32 (3): 8–9. Winter 2006.
- ^ Agre, Peter “Lifeline”, "The Lancet", London, January 26, 2008. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ Scouter Peter Agre Places a Nobel Prize Alongside His Eagle Award, By Douglass K. Daniel
- ^ McGregor, Steve (2005). "Nobel Laureate to Pitch Science as Fun". U. of Texas – Dallas. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- ^ a b "Peter Agre – Biographical". www.nobelprize.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Agre, Peter "Reductions of Erythrocyte Membrane Viscoelastic Coefficients Reflect Spectrin Deficiencies in Hereditary Spherocytosis", "Journal of Clinical Investigation", Ann Arbor, January 1, 1988. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ Agre, Peter “Molecular biology of the Rh antigens.”, "Blood", Washington DC, August 1, 1991. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "The 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry – Popular Information". www.nobelprize.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Interwiew with Peter Agre awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of aquaporin". www.youris.com. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ New York Times, January 26, 2009
- New York Times, October 4, 2015
- ^ "Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute Marks 10th Anniversary – Mike Bloomberg". Mike Bloomberg. November 16, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Driver, Kelly. "Our People". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Driver, Kelly. "Research". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Saslow, Rachel “Q&A with Peter Agre, malaria scientist.”, "The Washington Post", Washington DC, April 4, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research, Regional Centers, NIAID, NIH". Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ From the Nobel Prize to Third World Medicine: An Interview With Peter Agre, By Kate Travis, Science, June 10, 2011
- ^ ‘Science diplomacy’ focus of Nobel laureate Agre’s Discovery Lecture, By Bill Snyder, Vanderbilt, January 14, 2016
- ^ Oceans, Weather, Health—U.S. Researchers Explore Potential Collaboration with Cuban Colleagues, By Edward W. Lempinen, American Association for the Advancement of Science, May 1, 2012
- ^ "Goodbye Baltimore, Hola Havana". rising.jhu.edu. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ AAAS President Peter Agre Leads Delegation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for Talks on Academic Science Collaboration, By AAAS Staff Report, American Association for the Advancement of Science, December 9, 2009
- ^ The scientific diplomat: AAAS president Peter Agre talks to Nature about his recent visits to Cuba and North Korea, By David Cyranowski, Nature, January 20, 2010
- ^ What turns a scientist into a good-will ambassador? By Peter Agre, TEDMED 2011, October 26, 2011
- ^ US Nobel Laureate to Lead Science Diplomacy Mission to N. Korea, By Baik Sungwon, Voice of America, November 5, 2015
- ^ AAAS-Led Delegation Discusses Forestry, Health, and Research with Myanmar S&T Leaders, By Edward Lempinen, American Association for the Advancement of Science, May 11, 2010
- ^ Bringing Health Research to the Renewed U.S.-Myanmar Relationship, By Peter Agre et al, Science & Diplomacy, June 1, 2012
- ^ AAAS Delegation, Led by Nobel Laureate Peter Agre, Makes “Positive” Visit to Iran, By Edward Lempinen, American Association for the Advancement of Science, June 25, 2012
- ^ "Committee on Human Rights (CHR)". www7.nationalacademies.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "In Support of Thomas C. Butler". Federation of American Scientists. September 14, 2006. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ^ Plagued by Fear Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine Cleveland Plain Dealer series
- ^ Cheng, Kenneth "30 Plague Vials Put Career on Line", The New York Times, New York, October 19, 2003.
- ^ "Nobel Prize-winning scientist considers challenging Coleman". Minnesota Public Radio. May 18, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
- ^ Turley, Jonathan "The land of $9 million", USA Today, Washington DC, May 15, 2007.
- New York Times, New York, May 23, 2007.
- ^ "Nobel-winning scientist won't run for Senate". Minnesota Public Radio. August 29, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
- ^ Scheck, Tom (October 4, 2004). "Nobel winner says Bush is politicizing science". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
- ^ Agre, Peter (December 10, 2013). "Fifty Years Ago: Linus Pauling and the Belated Nobel Peace Prize" (PDF). Science & Diplomacy. 2 (4). Archived from the original on February 13, 2014.
- ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
External links
- Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative
- Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute
- Bringing Health Research to the Renewed U.S.-Myanmar Relationship, June 2012, Science & Diplomacy
- Johns Hopkins Media Story on his Nobel prize
- Agre Nobel Prize lecture
- Nobel laureate: Gov't, science research clash post September 11 The Daily Cardinal
- Coverage of October 21, 2005 speech by The Chronicle, Duke's student newspaper[permanent dead link]
- Video interview with Stephen Colbert October 19, 2006
- Video intervista a Peter Agre su Asia.it (in Italian)