Alexander Gordon Bearn
Encyclopedia
Alexander Gordon Bearn informally Alick Bearn (March 29, 1923 – May 15, 2009), a physician, scientist and author, was professor at Rockefeller University
and Cornell University Medical College. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
, and had been Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society
. He died Friday, May 15, 2009 in Philadelphia. Prior to his death Bearn was working on a family history that followed the Bearn family from Béarn
, France to Angus
, Scotland and finally to the United States.
, and received his M.B., B.S. and M.D. degrees from the University of London
. He came to the Rockefeller University
in 1951 and began his work on the genetics of rare metabolic diseases. He spent a sabbatical term at the Galton Laboratory
at the University of London in 1958-59. In 1964 he was called to the Rockefeller University
as professor and senior physician.
. He founded the first human genetics laboratory at the Medical College, and with colleagues at the Rockefeller initiated the joint M.D./Ph.D. program at the institutions. He remained at Cornell until 1979 when he was named senior vice-president for medical and scientific affairs of Merck
, Sharpe & Dohme, International Division, from which he retired in 1988.
His work in the area of human genetics and liver disease led him to define the genetic nature of Wilson's Disease
, which affects the liver and brain, and showed that the disease was associated with a deficiency in the blood of ceruloplasmin
, a copper-binding protein. He also discovered that the urine
level of B2 microglobulin, was a sensitive indicator of proximal renal tubular damage. This protein was later shown to be of great immunological importance as a part of the human leukocyte antigen
histo-compatibility system. His laboratory also described a number of genetic variants in serum proteins that allowed for later work in serum enzymes.
and the Individuality of Man, (Oxford University Press, 1993), Sir Clifford Allbutt (1834-1925): Scholar and Physician (Royal College of Physicians of London 2007), and Sir Francis Fraser: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine. (Book Guild Publishing, 2008).
, the Institute of Medicine
, and other societies, including the Harvey Society, President 1972-73, and the American Society of Human Genetics
, President 1971. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
in 1972 and served as a vice president (1988-1996), and executive officer (from 1997 until his retirement in 2002). He received the Society’s Benjamin Franklin Medal in 2001.
He served as a Trustee of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
for eighteen years, becoming Trustee Emeritus in 2005. In 1970 Bearn joined the Rockefeller Board of Trustees and was elected Trustee Emeritus in 1998. In 2002 he received the David Rockefeller Award. He also served as a trustee of the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
, the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation
and as an overseer of the Jackson Laboratory
.
During the academic year 1996-97, he was named Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Christ’s College where he began his research on Clifford Allbutt. Bearn has a number of honorary degrees including an M.D.(hon) from Catholic University, Korea (1968), Docteur (hc), Paris René Descartes (1975) and Honorary Alumnus, Cornell University Medical College, New York (1983).
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...
and Cornell University Medical College. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, and had been Executive Officer of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
. He died Friday, May 15, 2009 in Philadelphia. Prior to his death Bearn was working on a family history that followed the Bearn family from Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
, France to Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, Scotland and finally to the United States.
Education
Bearn was educated in England at Epsom CollegeEpsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
, and received his M.B., B.S. and M.D. degrees from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He came to 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 1951 and began his work on the genetics of rare metabolic diseases. He spent a sabbatical term at the Galton Laboratory
Galton Laboratory
The Galton Laboratory, was a laboratory for research into human genetics based at University College London in London, United Kingdom. It was originally established in 1904, and became part of UCL's biology department in 1996....
at the University of London in 1958-59. In 1964 he was called to 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...
as professor and senior physician.
Career
In 1966 he became professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine at Cornell University Medical College and physician-in-chief at New York HospitalNew York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
. He founded the first human genetics laboratory at the Medical College, and with colleagues at the Rockefeller initiated the joint M.D./Ph.D. program at the institutions. He remained at Cornell until 1979 when he was named senior vice-president for medical and scientific affairs of Merck
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
, Sharpe & Dohme, International Division, from which he retired in 1988.
His work in the area of human genetics and liver disease led him to define the genetic nature of Wilson's Disease
Wilson's disease
Wilson's disease or hepatolenticular degeneration is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues; this manifests as neurological or psychiatric symptoms and liver disease...
, which affects the liver and brain, and showed that the disease was associated with a deficiency in the blood of ceruloplasmin
Ceruloplasmin
Ceruloplasmin is a ferroxidase enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CP gene.Ceruloplasmin is the major copper-carrying protein in the blood, and in addition plays a role in iron metabolism. It was first described in 1948...
, a copper-binding protein. He also discovered that the urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
level of B2 microglobulin, was a sensitive indicator of proximal renal tubular damage. This protein was later shown to be of great immunological importance as a part of the human leukocyte antigen
Human leukocyte antigen
The human leukocyte antigen system is the name of the major histocompatibility complex in humans. The super locus contains a large number of genes related to immune system function in humans. This group of genes resides on chromosome 6, and encodes cell-surface antigen-presenting proteins and...
histo-compatibility system. His laboratory also described a number of genetic variants in serum proteins that allowed for later work in serum enzymes.
Authorship
Bearn was the author of many scientific articles. He has also written three scientific biographies Archibald GarrodArchibald Garrod
Sir Archibald Edward Garrod KCMG, FRS was an English physician who pioneered the field of inborn errors of metabolism.- Education and Personal Life :...
and the Individuality of Man, (Oxford University Press, 1993), Sir Clifford Allbutt (1834-1925): Scholar and Physician (Royal College of Physicians of London 2007), and Sir Francis Fraser: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine. (Book Guild Publishing, 2008).
Memberships and honours
Dr. Bearn was a member of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
, and other societies, including the Harvey Society, President 1972-73, and the American Society of Human Genetics
American Society of Human Genetics
The American Society of Human Genetics , founded in 1948, is the primary professional membership organization for specialists in human genetics worldwide. As of 2009, the organization had approximately 8,000 members...
, President 1971. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in 1972 and served as a vice president (1988-1996), and executive officer (from 1997 until his retirement in 2002). He received the Society’s Benjamin Franklin Medal in 2001.
He served as a Trustee of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Howard Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
for eighteen years, becoming Trustee Emeritus in 2005. In 1970 Bearn joined the Rockefeller Board of Trustees and was elected Trustee Emeritus in 1998. In 2002 he received the David Rockefeller Award. He also served as a trustee of the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
Helen Hay Whitney Foundation
The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation is a New York City based charitable foundation which supports early postdoctoral research training in all basic biomedical sciences....
, the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation
Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation
The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation is a philanthropic foundation founded in 1930 by Kate Macy Ladd in honor of her father Josiah W. Macy, Jr. The Foundation became internationally known for the support of the Macy conferences starting late 1940s : a series of interdisciplinary meetings of scientists...
and as an overseer of the Jackson Laboratory
Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory was founded in Bar Harbor, Maine in 1929 by former University of Maine and University of Michigan president C. C. Little under the name Roscoe B...
.
During the academic year 1996-97, he was named Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Christ’s College where he began his research on Clifford Allbutt. Bearn has a number of honorary degrees including an M.D.(hon) from Catholic University, Korea (1968), Docteur (hc), Paris René Descartes (1975) and Honorary Alumnus, Cornell University Medical College, New York (1983).