The 2003 Keio Medical Science Prize Awardees
Ronald M. Evans
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Professor, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Reason for Selection and his Major Achievement:
Theme: Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of nuclear receptors that link lipid-soluble hormones and vitamins to gene expression
While many hormones act through classic second messengers, nuclear receptors define unique hormone signaling pathways that link lipid-soluble hormones and vitamins to gene expression. In 1985, Dr. Ronald Evans' group first cloned and characterized the human glucocorticoid receptor. Subsequent isolation of the human mineral corticoid, thyroid hormone, retinoic acid (Vitamin A), and retinoid X receptors by his group established the concept of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Furthermore Dr. Evans' continuous work on nuclear receptors, particularly on the PPAR receptors, which are regulators of lipid metabolism, has provided concepts that have led to new therapies for diseases of lipid and sugar metabolism.
Background
- ＜Education＞
- 1966-1970
- Bacteriology, B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
- 1970-1974
- Microbiology, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
＜Academic Positions＞
- 1975-1978
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University (with Dr. James Darnell)
- 1978-1983
- Assistant Research Professor, Tumor Virology Laboratory,
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies - 1983-1984
- Associate Professor, Molecular Biology and Virology Laboratory,
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies - 1984-1986
- Senior Member, Molecular Biology and Virology Laboratory,
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies - 1985-Present
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology,
University of California, San Diego - 1989-Present
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences,
University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine - 1995-Present
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego
- 1993-1994
- Chairman of the Faculty, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- 1990-1994
- Board of Trustees, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- 1996-1999
- Board of Trustees, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- 1997-1998
- Chairman of the Faculty, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- 1985-Present
- Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- 1986-Present
- Professor, Gene Expression Laboratory,
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies - 1998-Present
- March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology
- （as of October 2003）
Yasushi Miyashita
Professor and Chairman, Department of Physiology
Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Reason for Selection and his Major Achievement:
Theme: Cerebral mechanisms of cognitive memory
Memory is the basis of human mental functions, and explaining memory is one of the central tasks of modern science. Dr. Miyashita has identified the neurons involved in visual associative memory in the inferotemporal cortex of the primates and for the very first time demonstrated the reality of memory storehouse on the neuronal level. He has also elucidated the role of the hippocampus in memory formation, elucidated the role of the prefrontal cortex in memory retrieval, etc., and has produced excellent achievements that are a landmark in cognitive neuroscience and will be the pride of the present age in future generations. In addition, based on the memory storage neurons that Dr. Miyashita discovered himself he is currently attempting to elucidate the distributed-type mechanisms of the cerebral cognitive memory system by an integrative study passing through different levels of the functional hierarchy, and further development is expected in the future.
Background
- ＜Education＞
- 1972
- B.S. The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science
- 1978
- Ph.D. The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
＜Academic Positions＞
- 1978-1983
- Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
- 1983-1989
- University Lecturer, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
- 1984
- Visiting Lecturer, University of Oxford, UK
- 1989-Presen
- Professor of Physiology, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine
- 1996-2000
- Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, National Institute for Physiological Science
- 1996-Present
- Professor of Biophysics, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science
- （as of October 2003）