Robert Weinberg
Encyclopedia
Robert Allan Weinberg is a Daniel K. Ludwig
Professor for Cancer Research at MIT and American Cancer Society
Research Professor; his research is in the area of oncogenes and the genetic basis of human cancer. Weinberg is also affiliated with the Broad Institute
and is a founding member of the Whitehead Institute
for Biomedical Research. He co-teaches 7.012 (introductory biology) with Eric Lander
.
He is best known for his discoveries of the first human oncogene
Ras and the first tumor supressor gene Rb
p. 371-381, which is partially documented in Natalie Angier
s book, Natural Obsessions
, about her year spent in Weinberg's lab.
In the late 20th century, advances in genetics lead to the discovery of over 100 cancer cell types. Cancer cells were noted for their bewildering diversity. It was hard to identify the principles that cancers had in common. He and Douglas Hanahan
wrote the seminal paper, "The Hallmarks of Cancer", published in January 2000, that gave the 6 requirements for one renegade cell to cause a deadly cancer:
He is well known for both his brilliance in cancer research and for his mentorship of many eminent scientists. He is currently studying cancer cell metastasis
He is also the author of the textbook The Biology of Cancer published by Garland Science
.
and the Keio Medical Science Prize
in 1997, the Wolf Prize in Medicine
in 2004 (shared with Roger Y. Tsien
), and he is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. In 2007 he received an honorary doctorate degree in commemoration of Linnaeus from Uppsala University
. He is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
since 1992.
Daniel K. Ludwig
Daniel Keith Ludwig was a US shipping magnate and billionaire. Even though he was one of the wealthiest men of his day, his name was little known...
Professor for Cancer Research at MIT and American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
Research Professor; his research is in the area of oncogenes and the genetic basis of human cancer. Weinberg is also affiliated with the Broad Institute
Broad Institute
The Broad Institute is a genomic medicine research center located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Although it is independently governed and supported as a 501 nonprofit research organization, the institute is formally affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard...
and is a founding member of the Whitehead Institute
Whitehead Institute
Founded in 1982, the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research is a non-profit research and teaching institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA....
for Biomedical Research. He co-teaches 7.012 (introductory biology) with Eric Lander
Eric Lander
Eric Steven Lander is a Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , a member of the Whitehead Institute, and director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard who has devoted his career toward realizing the promise of the human genome for medicine. He is co-chair of U.S...
.
He is best known for his discoveries of the first human oncogene
Oncogene
An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...
Ras and the first tumor supressor gene Rb
Retinoblastoma protein
The retinoblastoma protein is a tumor suppressor protein that is dysfunctional in the majority types of cancer. One highly studied function of pRb is to prevent excessive cell growth by inhibiting cell cycle progression until a cell is ready to divide...
p. 371-381, which is partially documented in Natalie Angier
Natalie Angier
Natalie Angier is a nonfiction writer and a science journalist for the New York Times.- Life :...
s book, Natural Obsessions
Natural Obsessions
Natural Obsessions is a book written by American science author Natalie Angier published in 1988. It chronicles a year in the laboratories of two prominent cancer biologists during a period where there was a race to discover and characterize some of the first cancer-causing and cancer-suppressing...
, about her year spent in Weinberg's lab.
In the late 20th century, advances in genetics lead to the discovery of over 100 cancer cell types. Cancer cells were noted for their bewildering diversity. It was hard to identify the principles that cancers had in common. He and Douglas Hanahan
Douglas Hanahan
Professor Douglas Hanahan an American biologist, and director of the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research.In 1983 he developed Super Optimal Broth, a microbiological growth medium....
wrote the seminal paper, "The Hallmarks of Cancer", published in January 2000, that gave the 6 requirements for one renegade cell to cause a deadly cancer:
| Capability | Simple Explanation/Analogy |
|---|---|
| Self-sufficiency in growth signals | "accelerator pedal stuck on" |
| Insensitivity to anti-growth signals | "brakes don't work" |
| Evading apoptosis Apoptosis Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation... |
won't die when the body normally would kill the defective cell |
| Limitless replicative potential | infinite generations of descendents |
| Sustained angiogenesis Angiogenesis Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Though there has been some debate over terminology, vasculogenesis is the term used for spontaneous blood-vessel formation, and intussusception is the term for the formation of new blood... |
asking the body to give it a blood supply |
| Tissue invasion and metastasis Metastasis Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research... |
migrating and spreading to other organs and tissues |
He is well known for both his brilliance in cancer research and for his mentorship of many eminent scientists. He is currently studying cancer cell metastasis
He is also the author of the textbook The Biology of Cancer published by Garland Science
Garland Science
Garland Science is a publishing group that specializes in developing textbooks in a wide range of life science subjects, including cell and molecular biology, immunology, protein chemistry, genetics, and bioinformatics. It is a subsidiary of the Taylor & Francis Group...
.
Awards
He won the National Medal of ScienceNational Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
and the Keio Medical Science Prize
Keio Medical Science Prize
The Keio Medical Science Prize , is a distinguished Japanese prize in medical sciences.-Introduction:The prize is awarded to scientists who made significant contributions to the field of medical sciences or life sciences...
in 1997, the Wolf Prize in Medicine
Wolf Prize in Medicine
The Wolf Prize in Medicine is awarded once a year by the Wolf Foundation in Israel. It is one of the six Wolf Prizes established by the Foundation and awarded since 1978; the others are in Agriculture, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Arts. The Prize is probably the third most prestigious award...
in 2004 (shared with Roger Y. Tsien
Roger Y. Tsien
Roger Yonchien Tsien is a Chinese American biochemist and a professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego...
), and he is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. In 2007 he received an honorary doctorate degree in commemoration of Linnaeus from Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
. He is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
since 1992.
External links
- Weinberg's page at the Whitehead Institute
- Weinberg's page at MIT
- Weinberg Lab
- Bob Weinberg Playlist Appearance on WMBR's Dinnertime Sampler radio show March 17, 2004
- Weinberg interviewed in American Scientist