Category Archives: Biochemistry

Biochemistry

Biochemistry: Definition And Explanation – University of the People

Biochemistry is exciting and fascinating science, and this article will tell you everything youve been wanting to know about the field. Well give you the full biochemistry definition: the basics, the history, as well as the promising degrees and careers you can expect in the biochemists laboratory and beyond.

Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the branch of science that studies chemical and physicochemical processes within living organisms.

As a combination of biology and chemistry, biochemistry studies the chemical substances and processes which occur within the biology of the body or any living organisms.

Biochemists study large molecules such as carbohydrates and proteins in relation to metabolism and other important processes within the body. Other molecules that biochemists may study include enzymes and DNA. These types of molecules are important for understanding the complex processes which occur in all living organisms.

The term biochemistry was created by Carl Neuberg, a German chemist, in 1902. But the study itself has been around for over 400 years, essentially since the invention of the microscope in 1665 by Robert Hooke. The microscope made it possible to study cells.

In 1674, Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe live plant cells under the microscope, which opened up many more possibilities than the dead cells which were being observed up until then. Live cells allowed scientists to observe chemical processes that occurred within and between them.

In the 18th century, a notable discovery in the field was made by the French scientist, Antoine Lavoisier, who proposed the concept of photosynthesis, a process in which plants convert water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into their nutrients. Lavoisier was also the first person to study cell respiration, which is the process of making the energy molecule in the cells mitochondria.

In the 20th century, DNA was acknowledged as the genetic material which made up the cell. This was established by James Watson and Francis Crick based on the research work of Rosalind Franklin.

Most recently, new technology continues to advance scientific studies in areas such as recombinant DNA, gene splicing, radioisotopic labeling, and electron microscopy.

A career in biochemistry is recommended for those who enjoy research, as it is generally a career in laboratory science. Most careers in the field require at least a bachelors degree, such as a position as a laboratory technician. Other positions, such as laboratory managers or principal investigators of research, will require a masters degree or a Ph.D.

Laboratory technicians engage in bench work and help perform experiments in the lab under the instruction of the principal investigators. Technicians need a bachelors degree in order to be qualified, but more education and research will allow for more independence in the lab.

Lab managers carry more responsibility in the laboratory and may conduct independent research under the guidance of the principal investigator.

Though a masters degree in the field will require an emphasis on research, a Ph.D. prepares biochemists for a career in independent research, principal investigators of research in laboratories, and lecturers in university.

There are also many industry positions available to biochemists. Biochemists may also work in governmental labs or for companies in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, public health, or biotechnology. Some biochemists may also work in services such as toxicology and forensics.

As one may imagine, a contender for biochemistry needs to have a good understanding of both biology and chemistry. Some universities may offer a specific biochemistry track, or students can begin their education by taking a bachelors degree in either biology or chemistry, with a minor in the other.

Biochemists also need to have a good grasp of mathematics and statistics in order to conduct research. As students advance in their studies, they will begin to hone in on their particular interests.

Similar studies include health sciences, which offer courses in biology, anatomy, biostatistics, and disease prevention. Universities such as the University of the People (UoPeople) offer associates and bachelors degrees in health science completely online and tuition-free. The university also offers potential certificate programs in health science that can give ones career the right boost.

As weve seen, the biochemistry definition includes a rich history and an exciting future for further discoveries. Since the invention of the microscope, biochemists have been investigating the complex, hidden world of cells and molecules.

Biochemistry is an exciting and constantly evolving field of science with an emphasis on research and laboratory technology. Different levels of education open up many opportunities for working in the field. If you have a passion for this science, then biochemistry may be a meaningful career choice for you.

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Biochemistry: Definition And Explanation - University of the People

Biochemistry

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – Master of Science – Postgraduate …

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans.

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement.

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Applicants have access to the cost calculator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Master of Science - Postgraduate ...

Biochemistry

Role of biochemistry to fight malnutrition highlighted – Newspaper – DAWN.COM – DAWN.com

TOBA TEK SINGH: University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan says nutritional biochemistry is playing a pivotal role in controlling malnutrition which is hitting a large population especially women and children.

He expressed these views during his address as chief guest at the opening session of the one-day symposium on nutritional biochemistry jointly organised by the department of biochemistry and the faculty of food nutrition and home sciences of the university on Monday.

He said development of the agriculture sector was essential to control malnutrition by providing better food for the growing population.

Executive member of Pakistan Science Academy Islamabad Prof Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani said in this era, nutritional balance could be maintained not only through plants but also through more ingredients in normal diet and adopting healthy lifestyle and dietary habits.

Arid Agricultural University Rawalpindi former VC Dr Khalid Mehmood Khan praised the efforts and achievements of biochemistry worldwide and called it the best solution to overcome malnutrition. Millions of people across the country are suffering from nutritional deficiency due to lack of availability of balanced food. Dean Faculty of Sciences Dr Asghar Bajwa said in the modern era, health problems are worsening due to sedentary lifestyle. We have to eat food keeping nutrition in view for a healthy life.

Chairman department of biochemistry Dr Amir Jamil said the symposium would be able to formulate important recommendations to prevent increase in malnutrition.

Dr Kamran Sharif said the faculty of food nutrition and home sciences is paying full attention to making coordinated efforts with various departments to control malnutrition, which will produce positive results.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2022

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Role of biochemistry to fight malnutrition highlighted - Newspaper - DAWN.COM - DAWN.com

Biochemistry

In a first, Amit Shah launches Hindi version of MBBS books in Bhopal. Read here | Mint – Mint

The Madhya Pradesh government has started an ambitious project wherein now medical students can opt for studying MBBS in Hindi, instead of English, as is the norm for the rest of the country. On Sunday, at an event in state capital Bhopal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Hindi version of three subjects.

The Hindi version of medical biochemistry, anatomy and medical physiology subject textbooks were released by Amit Shah. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state medical education minister Vishwas Sarang were also present at the event.

"Today Amit Shah has brought a new dawn in the lives of children of the poor, who could get admission to medical colleges but were caught in the web of English and many times could not pass exams and left their studies," CM Chouhan said.

Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to start the MBBS course in Hindi, state Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said on the occasion.

A team of 97 experts have been working on the preparation of books for the last 232 days at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. They have been translating the book from English to Hindi.

Madhya Pradesh medical education minister Vishwas Sarang on Sunday said that the move will bring a big change in the advancement of education in Hindi medium.

Speaking to ANI, Sarang said, "It is a big day. For the first time in the country, medical education in Hindi will begin in Madhya Pradesh. Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the Hindi versions of textbooks of all three subjects of the first year - Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry today."

"This is a matter of joy for me. It now becomes clear that if medical education is possible in Hindi, any course is possible in Hindi. This will bring a major change in the lives of youth, especially those from Hindi backgrounds," he added.

"It was not an easy task but we prepared it in very easy language. We have prepared it so that it will be helpful in the studies of the students," an expert involved in the translation told news agency ANI.

The expert further said the new edition of Medical Biochemistry contains the application of some new chapters which include Sodium, Potassium, Water Homeostasis, Biochemistry Techniques, Radiation, Radioisotopes and Environmental Pollutants and Toxins.

Besides, Several new line diagrams, tables and text boxes have been added to make information more memorable.

Similarly in the Anatomy edition, new chapters of surface anatomy have been added in both abdomen and lower limb sections. New line diagrams, CT's and MRI's diagram tables and flow charts are added to increase the retention of knowledge.

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In a first, Amit Shah launches Hindi version of MBBS books in Bhopal. Read here | Mint - Mint

Biochemistry

Recognition for three ILS scientists – The New Indian Express

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Three scientists of Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) are among the worlds most influential scientific minds in 2022, as per a report published by Stanford University. The report that classified scientists in 22 scientific fields and 176 sub-fields has enlisted in-charge Director of ILS Prof Pulok Kumar Mukherjee, scientists Sanjeeb Sahoo and Amaresh Panda for their outstanding research in the field of drug discovery, biochemistry and molecular biology.

Prof Mukherjee is working on traditional medicine-inspired drug discovery and development from Indian medicinal plants with major emphasis on their validation, formulation, and standardisation. Sahoo focuses on nano-technology-based targeted drug delivery to tumour tissues whereby using the techniques, one can kill cancer cells in a lower dose with less toxicity to the normal tissue.

Similarly, Pandas research group has been working on the role of poorly characterised circular RNAs in muscle regeneration and insulin bio-synthesis. The new molecular mechanisms identified during his work contribute valuable knowledge of the post-transcriptional processes that influence human health and disease.

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Recognition for three ILS scientists - The New Indian Express

Biochemistry

Vitamin B1 may decrease the chances of migraine headaches – Medical News Today

Migraine headaches can be painful and difficult to manage.

The specific symptoms and timing are different for each person affected.

Experts are still working to understand why migraine headaches happen and what preventative steps people can take.

A recent study published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain reports that dietary intake of the B vitamin thiamine may help prevent migraine in some people.

Experts say the information gained from this research indicates a protective factor that may help improve outcomes for people who experience migraine.

Migraine is a neurologic condition that causes severe headaches that are typically localized to one area of the head.

The pain can be intense and people sometimes can experience other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting. Migraine headaches can be related to specific triggers, such as stress or hormonal changes.

Diet is one area that can affect migraine headaches. However, the specifics are something that experts are still working to understand. Specific food triggers or preventative measures can be different for each person.

Dr. Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in California, noted a few examples of this to Medical News Today:

Dietary triggers are common for migraine. Wines, cheeses, and caffeine can trigger a migraine headache. I ask patients on their first visit with me to keep a headache journal to see if there are any medications that trigger headaches. Caffeine can both cause and help headaches, so it is hard to generalize if something like this causes or helps headaches.

People who experience migraine may work with their doctors and other specialists to identify headache triggers.

As more data emerges about the relationship between diet and migraine headaches, clinical recommendations for treatment may continue to change.

Researchers in the new particular study examined the association between two B vitamins, thiamine (vitamin B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2), and the experience of severe headaches or migraine.

Researchers looked at data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999-2004 in their cross-sectional study.

Researchers included more than 13,000 participants in their analysis. Of these participants, 2,745 had experienced either a severe headache or migraine within the past three months. The researchers studied the 24-hour dietary intake of thiamine and riboflavin by looking at data collected from computer-assisted interviews of the participants.

They accounted for several factors, including participants ages, lifestyles, demographics, and comorbidities.

Researchers reported that higher amounts of thiamine in the diet were associated with lower chances of migraine. This was particularly true among female participants. However, the researchers did not find a significant decrease in risk related to riboflavin.

Dr. James Giordano, a professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., who was not involved in the study, noted the following to MNT:

This study provides important data to support that nutritional factors can be influential upon the induction of migraine headache. Of particular note is that this study demonstrated a statistically significant role of thiamine (vitamin B-1) in mitigating migraine. Thiamine has been shown to be particularly important in regulating brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin; abnormalities in serotonin function have been directly implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine.

The study did have some limitations.

First, the data relies on self-reporting from participants, which can be inaccurate. For example, when evaluating the incidence of migraine, there is some assumption that participants who reported a severe headache likely experienced a migraine. The 24-hour recall method also has the potential for errors in data collection.

In addition, the interviews did not include questions about all intestinal diseases and researchers did not look into dietary patterns.

Researchers also did not look at the intake of dietary supplements, which could have impacted the intake of thiamine and riboflavin.

Finally, there is the risk of errors based on the analysis techniques used and this type of study cannot prove that lack of thiamine causes migraine.

Overall, the study notes the impact thiamine may have on migraine headaches. It could open the door to further research in this area and later guide specific clinical recommendations.

Giordano noted the following:

Taken together, it may be that thiamine could provide a useful dietary supplement for migraine-suffering individuals who may be mild to moderately magnesium deficient or who have metabolic disturbances of calcium and magnesium metabolism.

He also noted the following areas for continued research:

While research is most certainly interesting and important, additional studies should be conducted to determine more specific roles for thiamine, as well as other vitamin co-factors that may be clinically useful in preventing or lessening migraine.

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Vitamin B1 may decrease the chances of migraine headaches - Medical News Today

Biochemistry

New Center Leads Collaborative Research to Improve Firefighter Health – University of Arizona

The new Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Researchin the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona Health Sciences will allow researchers to expand their work with firefighters and fire departments to study the occupational health risks firefighters face.

The center, recently approved by the UArizona Office of Research, Innovation and Impact, builds on years of firefighter health research conducted by Zuckerman College of Public Health faculty in close collaboration with fire departments. Some of that research has already had a positive impact on firefighter health, including helping inform the International Agency for Research on Cancers decision to classify occupational exposure as a firefighter as carcinogenic, changing the previous classification of possibly carcinogenic.

This new center focuses our efforts to find answers to the health questions that our firefighter partners are asking by bringing together the researchers who are working with firefighters on a range of issues, said Jefferey L. Burgess, MD, MS, MPH, professor in the Zuckerman College of Public Health. Our community-engaged research with firefighters is at the heart of the center.

Research conducted at the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research will build on previous studies and provide a database to help inform decisions, practices and policies to improve firefighter safety and health.

The center researchers and their teams have brought in over $50 million in grant funding awards since 2015 and resulted in more than 45 research publications that have informed practice and policy for firefighters and other essential workers.

Our collaboration with researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences has already delivered real benefits for our firefighters. I am proud that we can be part of a larger effort that advances health promotion and policy for all firefighters, said Tucson Fire Department Capt. John Gulotta. This collaborative effort is unique because stakeholder perspectives, activities and opinions from all levels of the fire service from frontline firefighters to senior leadership are represented. This approach improves the chance for successful change in the fire service safety culture.

We have forged strong relationships with the Tucson Fire Department and other fire departments that enable this research, said Dr. Burgess, who is also a member of the BIO5 Institute. At the same time, were able to draw on a range of public health expertise and exposure science knowledge at the University of Arizona Health Sciences and other collaborating universities that make it possible to do this work and answer these important occupational health questions.

Other College of Public Health researchers working with the Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research include associate professor Kate Ellingson, PhD; assistant professor and BIO5 Institute member Leslie Farland, ScD, MSc; assistant professor Melissa Furlong, PhD; associate professor Patricia Haynes, PhD, CBSM; and assistant professor Yiwen Liu, PhD. They work closely with firefighter partners including Gulotta; Capt. Jamie Gabriel from the Los Angeles County Fire Department; retired Capt. Jeff Hughes from the Orange County Fire Authority; Derek Urwin, PhD, engineer with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and assistant adjunct professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA; and Darin Wallentine, deputy fire chief of administrative services for the Sarasota County Fire Department in Florida.

Among many ongoing areas of research, Dr. Haynes works closely with the Tucson Fire Department to provide mental health services for firefighters, who often experience unusual levels of stress on the job. She worked with the Tucson Fire Department to develop a Peer Operational Support Team, or POST, where trained peers connect with their colleagues to provide resources after potentially traumatic calls.

I am fortunate to work with Tucson Fire, and the collaborative mental health programming we implemented has made a difference, Dr. Haynes said. Our POST program has bridged employees to mental health care and reduced the stigma sometimes associated with seeking care.

Moving forward, researchers at the center will build on existing partnerships and expand collaborations with other fire departments and wildland firefighting agencies, growing their reach and expertise to change policy and practice that will lead to better health outcomes for firefighters.

All of us in the college are very proud of what our faculty and their firefighter colleagues have accomplished, said Iman Hakim, MD, PhD,dean of the Zuckerman College of Public Health, They have been at the forefront of firefighter health research in many ways, with strong partners in the Tucson Fire Department, and they are really making a difference. Im very pleased that the new center will provide a focus for this expertise and continue our progress to keep firefighters healthy.

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New Center Leads Collaborative Research to Improve Firefighter Health - University of Arizona

Biochemistry

Leaning in to the scientific community – ASBMB Today

Kelly Ward has understood the value of community in the pursuit of science since she was a child. She grew up in Reading, Massachusetts, home to a school system she praises for having great opportunities for young students to be involved in science, technology, engineering and mathematics pursuits.

Ward joined Science Olympiad, a nationwide team-based science competition, in middle school, kept up her involvement all through high school and even went to the national competition.

Courtesy of Kelly Ward

Kelly Ward is a senior at Northeastern University with a biochemistry majorand a data science minor.

I really liked participating in the competitions, and you can see that today given that I went into biochemistry, she said. I love the process of asking a question, designing the experiment, and seeing if youve answered the question. I find it really rewarding.

Ward went on to choose Northeastern University for her undergraduate degree because it has a strong biochemistry program, research opportunities and a co-op program.

An American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Chapter member since the fall of her first year, Ward said she knew she wanted to be involved with the chapter as soon as she saw its thriving booth at the Northeastern student activities fair. Everyone seemed really nice, welcoming, and passionate about their research areas, she said.

After her first year as a member, she became the chapters secretary; she was the president last year and is serving as president again this year.

Embedded in the rich biotechnology ecosystem of Boston, Ward and her chapter have a lot of opportunities for external engagement. Under her leadership and in collaboration with the biochemistry program director, Kirsten Fertuck, the chapter hosts frequent panels with local professionals, focused on career progression and life as an industry scientist.

Weve had speakers from a variety of biotech companies in and around Boston, Ward said. Its been incredibly beneficial to hear about their experiences and gather great advice.

Her chapter also hosts panels with Northeastern faculty about undergraduate research and graduate school. Northeasterns co-op program, where students work full time for six months instead of attending classes, ties nicely into the atmosphere of being embedded in the local scientific community and experiential learning.

Ward thinks its important to keep the social elements of science and community engagement alive too. Her chapter hosts games nights and offers volunteer opportunities. The members partner with other Northeastern clubs as well as clubs at other Boston area colleges to grow their community and network. Her chapter has hosted Active Site, a regional conference for undergraduates sponsored by the ASBMB.

Now a senior with a biochemistry major and a data science minor, Ward wants to go on to graduate school to continue her scientific studies. Shes open to a variety of programs including biochemistry or immunology but ultimately would like to continue to work in oncology.

I have been fascinated by the variety of approaches to cancer treatment that Ive seen during my co-ops and on campus research, she said, and Id love to continue to work in this complex field.

Whatever becomes her ultimate career goal, Ward knows shed like to be in a position where she can mentor younger scientists. Mentoring, she said, has been an important part of her own journey.

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Leaning in to the scientific community - ASBMB Today

Biochemistry

ASBMB weighs in on Title IX updates – ASBMB Today

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology last month made five recommendations to the U.S. Department of Education in response to the agencys proposed rulemaking regarding sexual harassment and Title IX protections.

The recommendations included (1) defining sexual harassment better, (2) eliminating the requirement for live cross-examinations in harassment and assault cases, (3) making explicit protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and other non-straight, non-cisgender identifying people, (4) confirming protections against multiple forms of retaliation, and (5) making explicit protections of all postdocs.

Title IX is a 1972 civil rights law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in educational institutions, programs or activities that receive federal funding. Over the decades, the law has opened doors for many women and girls to have equal access to education and extracurricular activities, such as sports. But in recent years, Title IX protections have come and gone, depending upon who has been in the White House.

In 2011, the Obama administration provided a guidance urging colleges and universities to deal with sexual harassment and assaults on campus. However, the Trump administration removed many protections. Then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, for example, narrowed the definition of sexual harassment and stripped away protections in favor the accused, resulting in damaging experiences for survivors, such as mandatory live cross-examinations.

In the first month President Joe Biden was in office, he issued an executive order aimed at preventing and combating discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in the federal service. Two months later, he issued an executive order on discrimination specifically in educational settings.

That summer, the ASBMB urged the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights to clearly define sexual harassment, eliminate mandatory live cross-examinations and change the standard of evidence in Title IX cases to align with other civil cases by using a preponderance of the evidence.

This summer, the agency released a notice of proposed rulemaking, to which the ASBMB responded with the following suggestions, hewing closely to the ones it released in June 2021.

The society expressed support for the agencys new definition of sexual harassment: sex discrimination, including related to a hostile environment under the recipients education program or activity, as well as discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Whereas the Trump administrations definition had three categories sexual assault, quid pro quo and sexual harassment the new definition ensures that all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence are covered.

The society expressed support for the agencys new language making live cross-examinations of harassment and assault survivors optional. The society also urged officials to allow institutions to proceed with the single-investigator model when needed as it is better for avoiding direct confrontation between the accuser and the accused, and it is common practice in civil rights cases.

The society expressed support for proposed language making LGBTQIA+ individuals explicitly protected under Title IX. By protecting LGBTQIA+ students, the department will be creating safer and less hostile learning environments not only for LGBTQIA+ students but for all students, resulting in more optimal learning outcomes, the society wrote.

The society expressed support for a proposed amendment that would protect survivors of harassment and assault from multiple forms of retaliation, not just retaliation from supervisors. While keeping language broad so that multiple situations can apply is beneficial, the society wrote, explaining different forms of retaliation is key to upholding communication between the department and those protected by Title IX. Moreover, updating Title IX to specifically state the prohibition of peer retaliation is important to ensure more victims feel safe to come forward.

The society urged the agency to explicitly extend protections to people in postdoctoral positions. Currently, students, employees and people participating or attempting to participate in an education program or activity can file Title IX grievances; however, there is no specific wording to protect postdocs, who sometimes are not classified as employees. The society recommended the agency insert direct language to all amendments, including those that prohibit discrimination against pregnant people, to protect individuals in postdoctoral positions.

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ASBMB weighs in on Title IX updates - ASBMB Today

Biochemistry

Cook recognized for scientific leadership in biohealth research – University of WisconsinMilwaukee

James Cook, distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has been awarded the Hector F. DeLuca Scientific Achievement Award from BioForward Wisconsin. The award recognizes Cooks scientific leadership and contributions to the states biohealth industry.

Cook is a leading expert in GABA-A brain receptor drug targeting and has published more than 550 papers in the fields of natural products, medicinal chemistry and organic synthesis. He is a recipient of the UW System Innovator Award and the UW-Milwaukee Innovator Award, and he has filed over 90 patents.

Cooks UWM research group created a series of compounds for drug-resistant epilepsy and chronic pain that were licensed to RespireRx Pharmaceuticals. The compounds carry no risk of addiction, tolerance, sedation or impaired coordination in preclinical tests of their use to circumvent the opioid crisis.

His research collaboration at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at the University of Toronto has led to licensing compounds that target depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimers disease to Damona Pharmaceuticals.

He cofounded four pharmaceutical startups, including Promentis Pharmaceuticals with David Baker at Marquette University. Promentis has a drug in clinical trials for the chronic mental illness trichotillomania (chronic hair-pulling). The compound also is effective for treating anxiety disorder without the side effects of sedation or dependence.

With neurologist Soma Sengupta at the University of Cincinnati, Cook cofounded Amlal Pharmaceuticals, which is testing compounds for glioblastoma (brain tumors), melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

At UWM, Cook was a founding member of the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, which has faculty and student members from the departments of chemistry and biochemistry, psychology, biological sciences and engineering.

Interacting with various departments, students and over 30 collaborators worldwide have made it much easier to do drug discovery and development at UWM, Cook said. The support from the UWM administration and the faculty and staff of the MIDD has been unwavering, even when resources were scarce. This has led to a bright future for MIDD and UWM.

Cook joined the UWM faculty in 1973 and was promoted to university distinguished professor in 2002.

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Cook recognized for scientific leadership in biohealth research - University of WisconsinMilwaukee