Mary Bartlett Bunge facts for kids

Mary Bartlett Bunge (born April 3, 1931 – died February 17, 2024) was an American scientist who studied the brain and nervous system. She was a neuroscientist who worked to find ways to cure paralysis. She did her important research at the University of Miami, where she was a professor of cell biology.

Early Life and Interests

Mary Bartlett was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on April 3, 1931. Her parents were George Chapman Bartlett and Margaret Elizabeth Bartlett. Her father built and fixed houses, including the one she grew up in. Her mother was a painter and decorator. Even though her parents didn't go to college, Mary liked their artistic jobs.

Her grandmother taught her how to sew. Mary loved art and fashion, designing and making her own clothes. She even dreamed of becoming a fashion designer in New York City. But she later decided that art could be a hobby instead. She became very interested in biology when she watched tadpoles turn into frogs. This made her wonder how living things develop.

Her Education Journey

Mary went to Simmons College in Boston to become a lab technician. This was a big step for women in the 1950s. Back then, many college women were expected to get married and start a family instead of continuing their education.

During her time at Simmons College, Mary attended a program at Jackson Memorial Laboratory. There, she saw a rabbit's heart beating in a tissue culture dish. This amazing moment made her realize she wanted to do research, not just be a lab tech. After graduating from Simmons College in 1953, she went to graduate school. She joined the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

At Wisconsin, she worked with Dr. Robert Schilling. She helped him research something called intrinsic factor. This factor is missing in people with pernicious anemia, which makes it hard to absorb vitamin B12. Their research helped people with this condition. This work showed Mary how science could help real patients. She earned her master's degree in medical physiology in 1955. Later, she earned her doctorate in 1960, working with Dr. Hans Ris in the Zoology Department.

Personal Life and Career

At the University of Wisconsin, Mary met Richard Bunge, a medical student. They got married and shared both their personal lives and their careers. After graduating, they moved to Columbia University for their next research steps. They soon had two sons, Jonathan (born in 1962) and Peter (born in 1964).

Mary worked part-time as a research associate at Columbia University for eight years. In 1970, her family moved to Washington University School of Medicine. She chose to be a research assistant professor. This allowed her to keep raising her young sons. She later started teaching full-time. By 1974, she became an associate professor with tenure, which means a permanent job. In 1978, she became a full professor.

Mary Bunge passed away on February 17, 2024, at the age of 92.

Important Research Discoveries

Richard Bunge introduced Mary to neuroscience, the study of the nervous system. This became her main focus at Washington University. She studied Schwann cells, which are special cells that wrap around the long parts of neurons (nerve cells) called axons. They form a protective layer called the myelin sheath. This sheath acts like insulation and helps nerve signals travel faster.

One of her big discoveries was finding out that oligodendrocytes are the cells that make the myelin sheath in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). She saw this clearly under an electron microscope when looking at a kitten's spinal cord. She also showed that damaged myelin could be rebuilt in the adult spinal cord. This is very important for treating conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, where myelin is damaged.

From 1989 to 2023, Dr. Bunge was a key leader in the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. This project, at the University of Miami School of Medicine, uses her research on myelin. Her husband was the scientific director of the project. After he passed away in 1996, Mary took over his role. The project works on ways to help nerves grow back after spinal cord injuries.

Dr. Bunge held many patents for her inventions. One patent, from 2009, was for "Schwann Cell Bridge Implants." These implants help nerves regrow after injuries to the central nervous system. Her research is now being used in early human studies. In 2012, the FDA approved testing the safety of transplanting Schwann cells into patients with recent paralysis.

While these trials are happening, Dr. Bunge also worked on other treatments. In 2014, she published research showing promising results in rats. She used Schwann cells that were changed to produce a growth factor and an enzyme. This combination helped nerves regrow more and improved movement.

Awards and Recognition

Mary Bunge was a professor of cell biology, neurological surgery, and neurology at the University of Miami for over 20 years. She received many awards for her important research. In 1996, she received the Wakeman Award for Spinal Cord Repair. She also won the Javitis Neuroscience Investigator Award three times. This award is from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

She was the elected Chair of the Development of Women's Careers in Neuroscience Committee. This was part of the Society for Neuroscience from 1994 to 2002. In 2000, she received the Mika Salpeter Women In Neuroscience Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized her leadership in helping women in neuroscience careers.

In 2001, she received the Christopher Reeve Research Medal for Spinal Cord Repair. She also received the Christine E Lynn Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience Award in 2003. In 2005, she got the Lois Pope LIFE International Research Award. She was also chosen to be a member of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, which is a very high honor.