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5/27/2008
HHMI investigators announced
Six QB3 faculty affiliates have received one of the most sought-after honors in biomedical research: appointment as Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigators with guaranteed research support for five, 10 or more years into the future. This brings the total number of QB3 faculty affiliates who hold the prestigious appointments to 22.
The six are among 56 researchers "given the opportunity to tackle their most ambitious, risky research plans," the non-profit institute announced May 27 from its headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco professors will join 300 other HHMI investigators from academic institutions around the country.
The new investigators who are also affiliated with QB3 are:
- Christopher J. Chang, UC Berkeley assistant professor of chemistry and faculty scientist in the Chemical Sciences Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
- Abby F. Dernburg, UC Berkeley associate professor of molecular and cell biology and faculty scientist in LBNL's -Life Sciences Division.
- Michael B. Eisen, UC Berkeley associate professor of genetics, genomics and development in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and faculty scientist in LBNL's Genomics Division.
- Jay T. Groves, UC Berkeley associate professor of chemistry and faculty scientist in LBNL's Physical Biosciences Division.
- Wendell A. Lim, UC San Francisco professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology.
- Jack Taunton, UC San Francisco associate professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology.
"These 56 scientists will bring new and innovative ways of thinking about biology to the HHMI community," said Thomas R. Cech, HHMI president. "They are poised to advance scientific knowledge dramatically in the coming years, and we are committed to providing them with the freedom and flexibility to do so."
The institute prides itself on taking risks on individual scientists, relying upon their innovation and daring to explore new areas, extend the boundaries of science or even change direction, no matter how long it takes to yield results. This "people, not projects" approach has proven successful: 124 investigators are members of the National Academy of Sciences and 12 have received Nobel Prizes.
The new investigators were chosen in a nationwide competition among 1,070 applicants following a 2007 announcement soliciting researchers with four to 10 years of experience as faculty members.
HHMI is a non-profit medical research organization that has invested more than $8.3 billion over the past two decades in support, training and education of the nation's most creative and promising scientists.
Related links
HHMI Web site
UC Berkeley press release
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