Richard Lerner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Lerner
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| Born | August 26, 1938 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | December 2, 2021 (aged 83) La Jolla, San Diego, California, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Stanford Medical School and Northwestern University |
| Awards | Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1994) William B. Coley Award (1999) Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize (2003) Prince of Asturias Award (2012) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | The Scripps Research Institute Wistar Institute |
| Influenced | Benjamin List |
Richard Alan Lerner (born August 26, 1938 – died December 2, 2021) was an American scientist. He was a research chemist who made big discoveries. He was famous for his work on special antibodies and new ways to find useful chemicals.
Richard Lerner was also the President of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). This is a large science center in La Jolla, California. He led the institute for many years.
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About His Life
Richard Lerner grew up in Chicago, Illinois. When he was a boy, he was very good at chemistry and wrestling. He went to Hirsch High School.
After college at Northwestern University, he earned a medical degree (MD) from Stanford Medical School in 1964. He then did more training at Scripps Clinic. This place later became the institute he would lead.
In the 1970s, Lerner worked at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia. Later, he came back to La Jolla. In 1982, he became the head of the Molecular Biology department. Five years later, he became the director. In 1991, when TSRI became a nonprofit organization, Lerner was its first president.
His Scientific Work
Lerner's research changed how scientists thought about chemical reactions. He studied catalytic antibodies. These are special proteins that can speed up chemical reactions. He found ways to make reactions happen that were thought to be impossible.
He also helped create combinatorial libraries. These are huge collections of different molecules. Scientists use them to quickly find new medicines. In 1992, he worked with Sydney Brenner. They published an important paper about DNA-encoded libraries. This was a new way to make and test these collections.
Lerner also studied protein structure. He found a new lipid hormone called cis-9,10-octadecenoamide that helps people sleep. He also showed that ozone might play a role in some human diseases. In 1967, he found out how certain antibodies cause a disease called Goodpasture's disease. By 2007, he had 67 patents and published 403 scientific papers.
Awards and Honors
Richard Lerner received many awards for his work. He won the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 1994. This is a very important science award. He also received the California Scientist of the Year Award in 1996.
He was chosen to be a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He also joined the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1991. He received honorary degrees from several universities. In 2012, he shared the Prince of Asturias Award. This award is sometimes called the Spanish Nobel Prize. He shared it for his work on combinatorial antibody libraries.
Leading Scripps Research
Under Lerner's leadership, The Scripps Research Institute grew a lot. Its lab space became three times bigger. The number of staff quadrupled. This made it one of the largest nonprofit medical research groups in the world.
He also helped start a sister campus in Palm Beach County, Florida. It was called Scripps Florida. In 2011, it was announced that Michael Marletta would take over as president. Lerner officially stepped down on January 1, 2012. He had led the Institute for 25 years.
Later Life
Richard Lerner was married to Nicola Green Lerner, who is a doctor. He had three children: Danica, Arik, and Aaron.
A famous scientist named Benjamin List, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, started his career working with Richard Lerner.
Richard Lerner passed away on December 2, 2021, at his home in La Jolla. He was 83 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Richard Lerner para niños
