Two TSRI Scientists Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
May 2, 2017
Two scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in San Diego—Ardem Patapoutian and Phil Baran—have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences for their “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research,” the academy announced today. The two join several other TSRI scientists as members of this exclusive group of scientific scholars.
“Ardem and Phil have made extraordinary contributions to science,” said TSRI President Peter G. Schultz, Ph.D. “Their work, and this well-deserved recognition, place them among an elite group of scientists, and we are incredibly proud to have them as colleagues. I wish them both a hearty congratulations.”
Patapoutian, Ph.D., a TSRI professor and member of the Dorris Neuroscience Center at TSRI and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, studies how cells “talk” to each other and send signals through the body. His lab works to uncover the basic mysteries of human sensory biology, such as the proteins underlying our sense of touch, and contribute to the development of future treatments for disease.
“It is truly such an honor to be recognized by the NAS, especially as the need to advocate for strong science public policy is more urgent than ever,” said Patapoutian. “TSRI has truly enabled the cutting-edge techniques that have propelled our research forward.”
Baran, Ph. D., the Darlene Shiley Professor of Chemistry at TSRI, focuses on a field of chemistry called natural product synthesis. His lab has developed new methodologies for more efficient and economically viable routes to create potential new drugs.
“It’s a vote of confidence that the lab is pursuing the right problems and a testament to the amazing environment at TSRI that made this possible,” said Baran regarding the academy’s announcement. “Organic chemistry is a force for good in this world, and we are very blessed to be able to contribute to this vibrant and exciting discipline.”
Patapoutian and Baran are among the academy’s 84 new members and 21 foreign associates.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership and, along with other groups, provides science, technology and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.
Other National Academy of Sciences members at TSRI are Floyd E. Bloom, Dale L. Boger, Francis V. Chisari, Benjamin Cravatt, Richard A. Lerner, Michael B.A. Oldstone, Julius Rebek, Jr., Paul Schimmel, Peter G. Schultz, K. Barry Sharpless, Peter K. Vogt, Charles Weissmann, Ian Wilson, Chi-Huey Wong, Peter Wright and Kurt Wüthrich.
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The inner workings of the brain have eluded neuroscientists for ages—including how we perceive sensations such as touch, pain, sound and even blood flow. In this Front Row lecture, Scripps Research professor and Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian discussed the molecular sensors that enable the mind to interpret different physical and chemical stimuli. These discoveries—for which Patapoutian was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine—are helping answer long-standing questions in neuroscience, such as how cells communicate with each other, how we sense our body in time and space, how these sensors impact different diseases and more.