Peter Agre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Agre
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Agre in 2003
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| Born | January 30, 1949 Northfield, Minnesota, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Augsburg College (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MD) |
| Known for | Aquaporins |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2003) Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships (2014) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Medicine Chemistry Biochemistry |
| Institutions | Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute Duke University Case Western Reserve |
Peter Agre (born January 30, 1949) is an American doctor and scientist. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2003. He is known for discovering tiny channels in our cells called aquaporins. These channels help water move in and out of cells.
Agre is a professor at Johns Hopkins University. He also leads the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. He works to find new ways to fight malaria, a serious disease.
About Peter Agre
Peter Agre grew up in Northfield, Minnesota. He is one of six children. His parents were from Norway and Sweden. His father was a chemistry professor, which helped Peter get interested in science.
He went to Augsburg University for his chemistry degree. Then, he studied medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. After becoming a doctor, he returned to Johns Hopkins to do research.
His Career and Awards
Agre became a full professor at Johns Hopkins in 1992. He later worked at Duke University before returning to Johns Hopkins in 2008. There, he became the director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute.
In 2003, he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared this award with Roderick MacKinnon. Agre was honored for finding the aquaporin water channels. He has also received many other awards and honorary degrees from universities worldwide.
His Personal Life
Peter Agre is married to Mary, and they have four children. He is an Eagle Scout. He enjoys outdoor activities like canoeing and cross-country skiing.
Agre is known for being humble and kind. He once said, "I identify more with Huckleberry Finn than with Albert Einstein." He believes that science should be used to help people.
His Amazing Discoveries
As a medical student, Agre studied diseases that cause dehydration. Later, he researched red blood cells. He found a protein that was important for blood types.
Discovering Aquaporins
While studying blood cells, Agre's team found a new protein. They didn't know what it did at first. A former professor suggested it might be a water channel.
Agre's team tested this idea. They put the protein into frog eggs. These eggs then started to absorb water very quickly and burst! This showed that the protein was indeed a water channel. They named it aquaporin-1.
Agre called aquaporins "the plumbing system for cells." For a long time, scientists thought water just leaked slowly through cell membranes. But aquaporins explain how water moves very quickly in and out of cells. This is important for many body functions. For example, they help make tears, sweat, and help your kidneys work.
Winning the Nobel Prize
In October 2003, Peter Agre got a call early in the morning. He was told he had won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry! He shared the prize with Roderick MacKinnon. Agre was recognized for finding the aquaporin water channels. MacKinnon was honored for his work on ion channels.
Fighting Malaria
Peter Agre has always been interested in diseases that affect people in developing countries. He and his team study aquaporins in malaria parasites and mosquitoes.
Since 2008, Agre has led the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute (JHMRI). This institute works to find new ways to fight malaria. They develop ways to make mosquitoes resistant to malaria. They also create new vaccines and medicines.
JHMRI works closely with communities in Africa. They have built research centers in countries like Zambia. Thanks to their efforts, malaria has greatly decreased in some areas.
Science Diplomacy
Peter Agre has also been active in something called "science diplomacy." This means using science to build bridges between countries. He believes that scientists can work together even when their governments have problems.
Visits to Cuba
Agre made several trips to Cuba. The U.S. and Cuba had a difficult relationship for many years. Agre led groups of scientists to meet with Cuban scientists. They discussed ways to work together on peaceful science projects.
He even met with Fidel Castro. Agre's visits helped improve scientific ties between the two countries.
Visiting North Korea
In 2009, Agre led a team to North Korea. This country is very isolated. It was rare for Americans to visit. Agre's team visited research centers and universities. They talked about possible science projects, like developing new medicines.
Agre hoped these visits would help reduce tensions. He even gave his Nobel lecture tie to North Korea. He said it should be given to the first North Korean scientist who wins a Nobel Prize.
Other Diplomacy Efforts
Agre also visited Myanmar (Burma) and Iran. In these countries, he met with scientists and government officials. He discussed topics like malaria and scientific cooperation. His goal was always to use science to promote understanding and peace.
Working for Change
Peter Agre is also known for his political activism. He believes scientists should speak up on important issues.
Supporting Fellow Scientists
Agre has supported other scientists when they faced challenges. For example, he defended a scientist named Thomas C. Butler. Butler was accused of wrongdoing after some bacteria went missing. Agre and other scientists felt that Butler was treated unfairly. They believed it was an overreaction due to fears about bioterrorism after 9/11.
Considering Politics
In 2007, Agre thought about running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. He wanted to focus on health care and environmental issues. He felt that the Senate would benefit from a scientist's view.
However, he decided not to run. He realized it would mean stopping his scientific research and humanitarian work. Even so, he continues to advocate for more scientists in government.
Other Activism
Agre has spoken out on environmental issues. He criticized policies that he felt harmed the environment. He also admired Linus Pauling, another Nobel laureate who was a peace activist.
Agre was part of Barack Obama's team when he became president. He helped shape science policy. He also signed the Mainau Declaration 2015 on Climate Change. This declaration called for action on climate change. It was signed by many Nobel laureates.
See also
- Roderick MacKinnon
- Gheorghe Benga
