Alan Aderem
Encyclopedia
Alan Aderem is a biologist, specializing in immunology
and cell biology
. Dr. Aderem's particular focus is the innate immune system
, the part of the immune system that responds generically to pathogens.
Dr. Aderem is currently director of Seattle Biomed. Aderem co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology
with Leroy Hood
and Ruedi Aebersold
in 2000. The Institute for Systems Biology was one of the first research institutes in the world focused on developing a systems approach to understanding biology, health, and disease.
Aderem is from South Africa
. He received a PhD from the University of Cape Town
in 1979. In 1996, he was appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Review Commission of the South African Medical Research Council
, and reappointed in 2001. Aderem's interests embrace diseases important to South Africa, including AIDS
and tuberculosis
.
Aderem's early work in the innate immune system was conducted at The Rockefeller University
in New York. In 1996, he joined the faculty of the The University of Washington
, where he held appointments in the Departments of Immunology and Medicine.
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
and cell biology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
. Dr. Aderem's particular focus is the innate immune system
Innate immune system
The innate immune system, also known as non-specific immune system and secondary line of defence, comprises the cells and mechanisms that defend the host from infection by other organisms in a non-specific manner...
, the part of the immune system that responds generically to pathogens.
Dr. Aderem is currently director of Seattle Biomed. Aderem co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology
Institute for Systems Biology
The Institute for Systems Biology is a non-profit research institution, located in Seattle, Washington, United States. Leroy Hood co-founded the Institute with Alan Aderem and Ruedi Aebersold in 2000....
with Leroy Hood
Leroy Hood
Leroy Hood is an American biologist. He won the 2011 Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize “for automating DNA sequencing that revolutionized biomedicine and forensic science” and the 2003 Lemelson-MIT Prize for inventing "four instruments that have unlocked much of the mystery of human biology" by...
and Ruedi Aebersold
Ruedi Aebersold
Rudolf Aebersold is a Swiss biologist, regarded as a pioneer in the fields of proteomics and systems biology. Prof. Aebersold has primarily researched techniques for measuring proteins in complex samples, in many cases via mass spectrometry...
in 2000. The Institute for Systems Biology was one of the first research institutes in the world focused on developing a systems approach to understanding biology, health, and disease.
Aderem is from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He received a PhD from the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in 1979. In 1996, he was appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Review Commission of the South African Medical Research Council
South African Medical Research Council
The South African Medical Research Council is a para-statal medical research organisation in South Africa. Its mission is To improve the nation's health status and quality of life through relevant and excellent health research aimed at promoting equity and development. The current president is...
, and reappointed in 2001. Aderem's interests embrace diseases important to South Africa, including AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
Aderem's early work in the innate immune system was conducted at The Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
in New York. In 1996, he joined the faculty of the The University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, where he held appointments in the Departments of Immunology and Medicine.