After 26 years at UNMC, I’m still constantly amazed at what happens at this incredible medical center.
Case in point — the Denham Harman, M.D., Ph.D., Lectureship in Biomedical Gerontology was held last month to celebrate the man who arguably was the greatest researcher in UNMC history.
In 1954, Dr. Harman was the first to describe the Free Radical Theory of Aging. He theorized that free radicals, molecules that are everywhere — in the air, our bodies, and materials around us, cause aging and age-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease through their destructive actions in cells and tissues.
It was revolutionary at the time. It’s now considered mainstream science.
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Denham Harman, M.D., Ph.D. |
Dr. Harman worked at UNMC for 52 years. In 2010, at the age of 94, some surgeries forced him to stop coming to work, and he was placed into assisted living. Fortunately, he’s still going strong at age 98, a testimony to his genius when it comes to aging.
As always, this year’s Harman Lectureship featured an expert in the field of aging — David Sinclair, Ph.D., professor at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Sinclair, 44, is making his own waves in aging. He published an article in Science which determined that resveratrol, a compound in red wine, activates a protein that promotes health and longevity in animal models. It made the New York Times.
In his spare time, he also co-founded five biotechnology companies.
I had the opportunity to set up some media interviews with Dr. Sinclair and drove him to the airport.
He couldn’t have been nicer. He spoke glowingly about Dr. Harman…said he read about Dr. Harman’s research in aging when he was in high school back in Australia. It inspired him.
I mentioned that we were in the process of nominating Dr. Harman for the National Medal of Science and wondered if he would be willing to write a letter of support.
He didn’t hesitate in saying yes.
So, three weeks later, Time Magazine comes out with its 2014 list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Guess who’s on the list?
Yep, Dr. Sinclair.
Not every day that you get to schmooze with one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
But, at UNMC, it’s just another day.
Wonderful article. Great to learn of the history of the foundational leaders in research at the university. We are truly surrounded by and interacting with excellence.
I would like to add that the vision and passion of Dr. Jane Potter to bring geriatric medicine to UNMC is part of the "chemistry" that makes UNMC at great place to work and to receive care.