Edmond H. Fischer

Premio Nobel per la Fisiologia e Medicina, professore emerito di Biochimica dell'Università di Washington, Seattle
(deceduto il 27 agosto 2021)

- s.s. 21 giugno 1994, s.s.s. 1 settembre 2007
Was born in Shanghai, China on 6 April 1920. At age 7, he went to Switzerland where he carried out all his studies. He earned BS degrees in Chemistry and Biology, a Diploma of Chemistry and a PhD degree at the University of Geneva. After a few years as a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, he was appointed Privat-Docent. In early 1953, he joined the California Institute of Technology, working on hemoglobin synthesis in Henry Borsook's laboratory, then moved to the Department of Biochemistry at University of Washington, Seattle, as an Assistant Professor. He is now Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry in that Department.
It is in Seattle that, within six months of his arrival, he initiated his collaborative studies with Edwin G. Krebs on the regulation of glycogen phosphorylase. They went on to define the series of reactions leading to the activation of this enzyme as triggered by hormones or calcium. Since then, they have been interested in the overall regulation of cellular processes by reversible protein phosphorylation. Toward the end of his career, Dr. Fischer's laboratory had been particularly interested in the identification, characterization and regulation of various cytoplasmic and receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases and their involvement in signal transduction, celi cycle progression and transformation.
Dr. Fischer has served on a number of Scientific Committees, including Advisory Boards for NIH and NSF, the Muscular Dystrophy and American Heart Associations, the Friedrich Miescher Institute of CIBA-GEIGY, the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland, and of SUGEN, Inc. He is on the Board of Scientific Governors of The Scripps Research Institute and an Associate of their Neuroscience Research Program, on the Board of Governors for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Dr. Fischer is a member or Foreign Associate of several Academies of Sciences and was awarded doctorate degrees honoris causa from a half-dozen U.S. and foreign universities. He received the Werner Medal of the Swiss Chemical Society (1952), the Prix Jaubert (1968), the Senior Passano Award (1988) and the Steven C. Beering Award in 1991. In 1992, Drs. Fischer and Krebs shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning reversible protein phosphorylation as a biological regulatory mechanism.

Curriculum Vitae
Prof. Emer. of Biochem.
Born: Apr 6, 1920, Shanghai, China
EDUCATION
University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland BS 1944 Chem. & Biol Sci.
University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland PhD 1947 Chem./Biochem.
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
1948-1950 Fellow of the Swiss National Foundation
1950-1953 Research Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation
1950 Privat-dozent in Biochemistry, University of Geneva
1953 Research Associate, Division of Biology, Cal Tech
1953-1956 Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1956-1961 Associate Professor of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1961-1990 Professor of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1990-pres. Professor Emeritus, University of Washington
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: (Selected)
1959-1964 Biochemistry Study Section, NIH
1965-1968 Advisory Board for Metabolic Biology, NS17
1966-1992 Associate Editor, BIOCHEMISTRY,
1969-1972 Exec. Comm. Amer Chemical Soc. Div. of Biology
1973 Co-Chair, Third Int'l Symp on Metabolic Interconversion of Enzymes, Batelle, Seattle, WA
1975 President, Pacific Slope Biochemical Conference
1976-1984 Sci. Adv. Bd, F.M.I., CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland (Chairman 1981-1984)
1976-present Scientific Advisory Committee, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
1977-1980 Scientific Council on Basic Sciences, Amer. Heart Assoc.
1980-1983 Council, American Society of Biological Chemists
1980-1989 Scientific Advisory Committee, Muscular Dystrophy Association
1982-1987 Scientific Advisory Board, Biozentrum, Univ. of Basel, Switzerland
1985-1990 President, Comité de Direction du Centre de Recherches de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, CNRS, Montpellier, France
1987-present Board of Scientific Governors, The Scripps Research Institute
1990 Chairman, 1st FASEB Summer Conf. on Protein Phosphatases
1991 Co-President Scientific Committee of Euromédicine, Montpellier, France
1991-1995 President, Póle Universitaire Européen, Montpellier, France
1992 Co-Chairman, NATO/FEBS, International Summer School, Italy
1992-present Scientific Advisory Board SUGEN, Redwood City, CA
1995-present Associate, Neurosciences Research Program, LaJolla, CA
1995-present Scientific Advisory Board, Basel Institute for Immunology
1995-present Jury for the Rei Jaime I Prize in Basic Sciences, Valencia, Spain
1996 Honorary Chairman, NATO/FEBS Internatioal Summer School, Italy
1998-present Board of Governors - Weizmann Inst. of Science, Israel
HONORS: (Selected)
1952 Werner Medal, Swiss Chemical Society
1956-1959 Lederle Medical Faculty Award 1968 Jaubert Prize, University of Geneva
1972 American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1973 National Academy of Sciences
1988 Senior Passano Foundation Award, Baltimore, MD
1991 Steven C. Beering Award, Indiana University
1992 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1993 Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, Foreign Associate
1994 Venice Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Italy, Foreign Associate
1998 Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery, Cadiz, Spain
2000 Korean Academy of Science and Technology
DOCTORATE HONORIS CAUSA
1985 Doctorate Honoris Causa, University of Montpellier, France
1988 Doctorate Honoris Causa, University of Basel, Switzerland
1993 Doctorate Honoris Causa, Indiana University
1994 Doctorate Honoris Cause, Ruhr Universitat, Bochum, Germany
Curriculum Vitae
BIOGRAPHICAL: Born: April 6, 1920, Shanghai, China
Nationality: U.S. Citizen (Swiss nationality prior to 1958)
Marital Status: Married, two children
EDUCATIONAL TRAINING:
1927-1939 Primary and secondary education, Geneva, Switzerland
1939-1944 Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva
1944-1947 Doctoral Thesis (Professor Kurt H. Meyer): "Purification and Crystallization of Hog Pancreas a Amylase" DEGREES OBTAINED:
1939 Maturité Fédérale
1943 License ès Sciences Chimiques et Biologiques
1944 Diplôme d'Ingénieur Chimiste de l'Université de Genève
1947 Docteur ès Sciences
POSITIONS HELD:
1946-1947 Assistant, Laboratories of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva
1948-1950 Fellow of the Swiss National Foundation
1950-1953 Research Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation
1950 Privat-dozent in Biochemistry, University of Geneva
1953 Research Associate, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology
1953-1956 Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1956-1961 Associate Professor of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1961-1990 Professor of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1990- Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, University of Washington
1998- Visiting Professor, Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences and Medicine. Harvard Medical School
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:
American Society of Biological Chemists
American Chemical Society, Division of Biochemistry
American Association for Advancement of Sciences
American Association of University Professors
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
1958-1959 Executive Committee, Pacific Slope Biochemical Conference
1959-1964 Biochemistry Study Section, NIH
1961-1966 Editorial Advisory Board BIOCHEMISTRY Journal of the American Chemical Society
1962 Advisory Board, American Chemical Society
1965-1968 Advisory Board for Metabolic Biology, NSF Professional Activitics - Cont'd
1966-1992 Associate Editor, BIOCHEMISTRY
1968 Chairman, Gordon Conference on Proteins, June, 1968
1968-1970 Nominating Committee, Charles Pfizer (Lilly) Award in Enzyme Chemistry (Chairman, 1970)
1969-1972 Executive Committee, American Chemical Society, Division of Biology
1970 Co-Chairman, Symposium on Molecular Basis of Biological Specificity and Control Mechanism, Battelle Seattle Research Center, Seattle, WA,
1971-1972 Food Protection Committee Nat. Acad. of Sci./Nat. Res. Council
1971-1973 Advisory Board, American Chemical Society Monographs
1973 Co-Chairman, Third International Symposium on Metabolic Interconversion of Enzymes, Battelle Seattle Research Center Seattle, WA
1971-1974 ASBC Nominating Committee (Chairman, 1974)
1975 President, Pacific Slope Biochemical Conference
1976-1984 Scientific Advisory Board, Friedrich Miescher Institute, CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland (Chairman 1981-1984)
1976-1984 Critical Reviews of Science, Editorial Advisory Board
1976-present Special Selection Committee for Senior U.S. Scientists, Alexander von Humboldt Awards
1977-1980 Scientific Council on Basic Science, American Heart Association
1977-1978 Membership Committee, National Academy of Sciences
1978 Co-Chairman, Symposium on Disorders of Membranes and Receptors, Battelle Research Center, Seattle, Washington
1980-1983 Council, American Society of Biological Chemists
1980-1989 Scientific Advisory Committee, Muscular Dystrophy Association
1985-1989 Chairman, Task Force, Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Centers
1982-1987 Scientific Advisory Board, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland
1985-1990 President, Comité de Direction du Centre de Recherches de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, Montpellier, France
1986-1989 Board of Directors, Washington Technology Center
1986 Co-Chairman, NATO/FEBS International Summer School, Spetses, Greece
1987-present Board of Scientific Governors, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic
1987-1988 Chairman, Subcommittee of MDA Res. Centers Muscular Dystrophy Association
1988 Co-Chairman NATO/FEBS International Summer School, Lalonde-les-Maures, France
1990 Chairman, 1 st FASEB Summer Conference on Protein Phosphatases
1991 Co-President Scientific Committee of Euromédecine, Montpellier, France
1991-1995 President, Póle Universitaire Européen, Montpellier, France
1992 Co-Chairman, NATO/FEBS, Intemational Summer School Aquafredda di Maratea, Italy
1992-present Scientific Advisory Board SUGEN, Redwood City, CA
1993-present Jury for the Rey Jaime 1 o Award, Valencia, Spain
1995-present Associate, Neurosciences Research Program, LaJolla, CA
1995-present Scientific Advisory Board, Basel Institute of Immunology
1996 Honorary Chairman, NATO/FEBS Internat Summer School Aquafredda di Maratea, Italy
1997 Associate Member EMBO
1998-present Member of the Board of Governors - Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
1998-present Scientific Advisory Board - Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
1998-present Scientific Advisory Board - Principe Felipe Science Museum Valencia, Spain
HONORS AND AWARDS:
1952 Werner Medal, Swiss Chemical Society
1956-1959 Lederle Medical Faculty Award
1963-1964 Guggenheim Foundation Award
1963-1964 Special Fellowship Award, NIGMS, NIH
1968 Prix Jaubert, University of Geneva
1988 Senior Passano Foundation Award, Baltimore.
1991 Steven C. Beering Award
1992 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1994 Honorary Member, Japanese Biochemical Society
1998 Faculty of Medicine of Cadiz, Spain - Honorary Member
1998 Pediatria Extrahospitalaria de Cadiz - Honorary Member
Science Accademies: (U.S. and Foreign/Honorarv)
1972 American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1973 National Academy of Sciences
1993 Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, Foreign Associate
1994 Venice Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Italy,
1998 Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery, Cadiz, Spain
2000 Korean Academy of Science and Technology
Doctorates h.c.
1985 University of Montpellier, France
1988 University of Basel, Switzerland
1993 Medical Collegeof Ohio 1993 Indiana University
1994 Ruhr Università, Bochum, Germany
Special Lectures (Selected)
1969 The Riley Lectures Notre Dame Univ North Bend. IN
1976 Third Earl W. Sutherland Memorial Lecture, U.of Miami
1981 Fifth Jacques Monod Memorial Lecture, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
1983 University of Washington, Distinguished Lecturer Award
1990 Feigen Memorial Lecture, Stanford University
1990 Doisy Lecture, University of Illinois
1991 Jaques and Giselle Weisman Lecturer, Jerusalem, Israel
1991 Steinberg/Wylie Lecture, U. of Maryland
1992 Distinguish Lecture on Molecular Biology in Medecine UMD/Rutgers NJ
1994 34th Annual Weizmann Lecture. Weizmann Inst. Rehovot
1994 David M. Kovitz Lecture. Univ. of Calgary. Alberta. Canada
1994 Duke/Glaxo Lecture. Duke Univ. Durham. NC
1995 Clayton Found. Regents Lecture. Univ. of Texas, Austin TX
1995 Hans Neurath Lecture, University of Washington
1996 College de France, Paris, France
1996 First Earl W. Sutherland Memorial Lecture, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
1997 Max C. Markley Memorial Lecture, U. of Minnesota
1998 Juan March Lecture, Madrid, Spain
1998 EMBO Nobel Lecture, Lisbon, Portugal
1999 Eighth Annual Avery Steelman Lecture University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC
1999 Bennett Graduate Research Society Lecture Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
1999 Dean's Award Lecture in Neuroscience Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA
2000 First Landsteiner Lecture Pacific Northwest Research Institute