Bertram Fraser-Reid
Encyclopedia
Bertram Oliver "Bert" Fraser-Reid (born February 23, 1934) is a synthetic organic chemist
who has been widely recognized for his work using carbohydrates as starting materials for chiral
materials and on the role of oligosaccharides in immune response.
and attended Excelsior School and Clarendon College
before moving to Canada
in 1956. He completed his B.Sc (1959) and M.Sc. (1961) at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario
then went to University of Alberta
to earn a Ph.D.
in 1964 under the supervision of Raymond Lemieux. He went to Imperial College, in London
, to do postdoctoral work for Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Barton from 1964-1966.
in Waterloo, Ontario
where he established a research group known as "Fraser-Reid's Rowdies". The primary emphasis of his work at this point was the synthesis of chiral
natural products using carbohydrates as the starting materials. In 1980 he moved to the University of Maryland, College Park
before finally relocating to Duke University
in Durham, North Carolina
in 1982. In 1985 he became the James B. Duke professor of chemistry. While at Duke University his research efforts turned to exploring the role of oligosaccharides in immune responses, and particularly on the role these molecules play in human diseases like malaria
and AIDS
. After his retirement from Duke in 1996, which was linked to an undisclosed harasessment claim, he established the non-profit Natural Products/Glycotechnology Research Institute Inc. to study the carbohydrate chemistry/biology of tropical parasitic diseases in Third World countries with one goal being to develop a carbohydrate-based malaria vaccine
. Fraser-Reid and collaborators at this institute recently achieved a milestone in oligosaccharide synthesis by assembling a molecule consisting of 28 monosaccharide
units.
The Institute of Jamaica awarded Fraser-Reid the 2007 Musgrave Gold Medal for his work in chemistry, noting that during his career he co-authored over 330 peer-reviewed publications and supervised 85 post-doctoral fellows
and 55 Ph.D.
students.
, Spain (August 1995).
In the 1970s Fraser-Reid was involved in a law suit against a building contractor who had not followed municipal building codes. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada
, Fraser-Reid prevailed and "Fraser-Reid v Droumtsekas" is often cited in Canadian civil law.
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
who has been widely recognized for his work using carbohydrates as starting materials for chiral
Chirality (chemistry)
A chiral molecule is a type of molecule that lacks an internal plane of symmetry and thus has a non-superimposable mirror image. The feature that is most often the cause of chirality in molecules is the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom....
materials and on the role of oligosaccharides in immune response.
Early life
Fraser-Reid was born in Coleyville, JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and attended Excelsior School and Clarendon College
Clarendon College (Jamaica)
Clarendon College is a high school in the town of Chapelton in northern Clarendon, Jamaica. It is the oldest school in the parish. It was founded by the Rev. Lester Davy on February 2, 1942....
before moving to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1956. He completed his B.Sc (1959) and M.Sc. (1961) at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
then went to University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
to earn a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1964 under the supervision of Raymond Lemieux. He went to Imperial College, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to do postdoctoral work for Nobel Laureate Sir Derek Barton from 1964-1966.
Academic career
From 1966 to 1980 Fraser-Reid was on the faculty of the University of WaterlooUniversity of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
where he established a research group known as "Fraser-Reid's Rowdies". The primary emphasis of his work at this point was the synthesis of chiral
Chirality (chemistry)
A chiral molecule is a type of molecule that lacks an internal plane of symmetry and thus has a non-superimposable mirror image. The feature that is most often the cause of chirality in molecules is the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom....
natural products using carbohydrates as the starting materials. In 1980 he moved to the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
before finally relocating to Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
in 1982. In 1985 he became the James B. Duke professor of chemistry. While at Duke University his research efforts turned to exploring the role of oligosaccharides in immune responses, and particularly on the role these molecules play in human diseases like malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. After his retirement from Duke in 1996, which was linked to an undisclosed harasessment claim, he established the non-profit Natural Products/Glycotechnology Research Institute Inc. to study the carbohydrate chemistry/biology of tropical parasitic diseases in Third World countries with one goal being to develop a carbohydrate-based malaria vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
. Fraser-Reid and collaborators at this institute recently achieved a milestone in oligosaccharide synthesis by assembling a molecule consisting of 28 monosaccharide
Monosaccharide
Monosaccharides are the most basic units of biologically important carbohydrates. They are the simplest form of sugar and are usually colorless, water-soluble, crystalline solids. Some monosaccharides have a sweet taste. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose , fructose , galactose, xylose...
units.
Achievements
Several sources have reported that Fraser-Reid was nominated in 1998 for a Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work on oligosaccharides and immune responses. It is difficult to verify this since the names of the nominees are never publicly announced, and neither are they told that they have been considered for the Prize. Nomination records are sealed for fifty years.The Institute of Jamaica awarded Fraser-Reid the 2007 Musgrave Gold Medal for his work in chemistry, noting that during his career he co-authored over 330 peer-reviewed publications and supervised 85 post-doctoral fellows
Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral research is scholarly research conducted by a person who has recently completed doctoral studies, normally within the previous five years. It is intended to further deepen expertise in a specialist subject, including acquiring novel skills and methods...
and 55 Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
students.
Other interests
Apart from his interests in science, Fraser-Reid is an accomplished musician, having given piano and organ recitals at notable venues such as St. George's Cathedral, Kingston, Jamaica (December 1986) and Cathedral de SevilleSeville Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See , better known as Seville Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Seville . It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world....
, Spain (August 1995).
In the 1970s Fraser-Reid was involved in a law suit against a building contractor who had not followed municipal building codes. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
, Fraser-Reid prevailed and "Fraser-Reid v Droumtsekas" is often cited in Canadian civil law.