Robert Lefkowitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Lefkowitz
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Lefkowitz in Stockholm 2012
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Robert Joseph Lefkowitz
April 15, 1943 The Bronx, New York City, US
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Known for | G protein coupled receptors beta-arrestins |
| Spouse(s) | Arna Brandel (divorced) Lynn Tilley
(m. 1991) |
| Awards | National Medal of Science (2007) BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2009) Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2012) |
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| Notable students | Brian Kobilka, Jeffrey Benovic, Michel Bouvier, Marc G. Caron, Richard A. Cerione, Henrik Dohlman, Walter J. Koch, Lee Limbird, Martin J. Lohse, Gang Pei, Lewis "Rusty" Williams, R. Sanders Williams |
Robert Joseph Lefkowitz (born April 15, 1943) is an American doctor and scientist. He is famous for his important discoveries about how cells in our bodies communicate. For this work, he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2012, sharing it with Brian Kobilka.
Dr. Lefkowitz is currently a researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is also a professor at Duke University, teaching medicine, biochemistry, and chemistry.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Lefkowitz was born on April 15, 1943, in The Bronx, New York. His parents, Max and Rose Lefkowitz, came to the United States from Poland many years before.
He went to the Bronx High School of Science, a special school for science students. After high school, he studied chemistry at Columbia College and earned his degree in 1962.
In 1966, he became a medical doctor after graduating from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He then worked at the National Institutes of Health from 1968 to 1970, doing medical research.
Scientific Career
In 1973, Dr. Lefkowitz joined the Duke University Medical Center. He became a professor there, teaching medicine, biochemistry, and chemistry. Since 1976, he has also been a researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Dr. Lefkowitz studies how our bodies' cells receive messages. He is best known for finding out how a special group of cell parts, called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), work. He also discovered two types of proteins, called GPCR kinases and beta-arrestins, which help control these receptors.
One of his biggest breakthroughs happened in the mid-1980s. He and his team found the genetic code for the beta-adrenergic receptor. This receptor helps our bodies react to adrenaline. Soon after, they found the codes for seven more similar receptors.
This led to a huge discovery: all GPCRs have a very similar shape. They are like tiny threads that weave in and out of a cell's outer layer seven times. Today, we know that about 1,000 different receptors in the human body belong to this same family.
This discovery is very important for medicine. Because these receptors are so similar, scientists now understand how to create medicines that can target them effectively. Many common prescription drugs, like anti-histamines, ulcer medicines, and beta blockers for heart problems, work by fitting into these receptors.
Dr. Lefkowitz is considered one of the most important researchers in biology, biochemistry, and medicine.
Personal Life
Robert Lefkowitz is married to Lynn Tilley. He has five children and six grandchildren. He was previously married to Arna Brandel.
In 2021, Dr. Lefkowitz wrote a book about his life called A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm: The Adrenaline-Fueled Adventures of an Accidental Scientist. The book talks about his early life and how he became interested in science. It also shares stories about his research and winning the Nobel Prize. The book was praised by The New York Times and Nature magazine.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Lefkowitz has received many important awards for his work, including:
- 2014 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
- 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (shared with Brian Kobilka)
- 2009 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
- 2007 National Medal of Science
- 2007 The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine
- 2007 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research
- 2003 Fondation Lefoulon – Delalande Grand Prix for Science
- 2001 Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal of the USA – The National Academy of Sciences
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