UNMC researcher William Mayhan, Ph.D., answers questions about his life work and interests.
NOTE: This profile is part of a series highlighting the 25 researchers who were named UNMC Distinguished Scientists for 2006. Each of these researchers will be profiled in UNMC Today leading up to a March 12 ceremony to recognize their achievements.
- Name: William Mayhan, Ph.D.
- Title: Professor and Vice-Chairman, Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, College of Medicine
- Joined UNMC: 1989
- Hometown: Omaha
Describe your research in 25 words or less.
We examine mechanisms contributing to impaired responses of cerebral blood vessels during disease states. We hope that this information will provide insight into the pathogenesis of stroke.
How did you decide to pursue this area of research?
This area of research developed over many years and was based upon the discovery that endothelial cells produce/release vasoactive substances that can regulate diameter of blood vessels, and thus blood flow. Years ago, we found that cerebral blood vessels in animals with various diseases didn’t respond in the same manner as in control animals. Ever since, we have been examining mechanisms that account for this impaired reactivity.
When did you realize you were interested in research?
I realized that I was interested in research at about the age of 10. My parents gave me a chemistry kit and I made a large number of “compounds,” which I injected into my mother’s plants. I killed most of the plants, but discovered that I was interested in how things work.
What are the greatest challenges in research today?
In my opinion, the greatest challenges in research today are being able to initially receive funding and then being able to maintain funding throughout your career. Today, this does not seem to be as dependent upon the quality of your research. When only 15 percent of grants are funded there is a certain amount of luck involved.
Best advice for a new researcher?
Do what you know how to do best. Seems almost intuitive, but in today’s atmosphere of difficult funding you often see young investigators trying to “fit in.” They switch their area of expertise in order to fit in with their new chair or with the whims of the National Institutes of Health. This is a dangerous and often fatal career move. So, decide what is important in your area of expertise and stick with it.
When an experiment stalls, what drives you to continue on?
Hopefully, you have thought long enough about an experiment or series of experiments that they don’t stall. But, if they do you have to move in a different direction. The difficult part is recognizing when to move on, the drive to continue is always present.
Who has been your greatest teacher?
My greatest teacher about life was my father. He listened without judging, he provided support without questioning and he always made me laugh. My greatest teacher regarding research is Dr. Donald Heistad. I did my post-doctoral training with Don at the University of Iowa. Don taught me how to ask questions, which is probably the most important aspect of research, and he also taught me how to write a research paper. I remember when I gave Don my first manuscript. I was so proud of it. When he returned it to me the next day, there was a comment written by one of the paragraphs contained in the discussion section. It read “I’m not sure if this is English, but if it is, it’s not good English.” Over the years, Don and I have had a good laugh over that comment, but it is something that I will never forget, and actually I will never forgive him for that comment.
Hobbies outside the lab.
I love to golf, but never seem to have the time.
Globally, describe the most notable research achievement ever.
With regards to medicine there are many pivotal research achievements including the discovery of antibiotics, the vaccine for polio, vaccines for childhood diseases, the synthesis of insulin, discovering the structure of DNA, which was the basis for the human genome project, the discovery of nitric oxide and the list goes on and on. So, I don’t believe it is possible to single out one research achievement as the most notable ever. Hopefully, it hasn’t happened yet.
Clarify a common misconception about research?
There are several misconceptions about research. First, I think that scientists do a rather poor job in informing the public about the benefits of research to both human and animal health. So, I think that some feel that research is a waste of money. But, research is the starting point for all scientific advances. New forms of surgery and lifesaving drugs would not have been developed if not for basic biomedical research. Second, I think that people think that research is boring. Nothing can be further from the truth. Everyday we look at things in a different way and we try to answer questions that no one else has even thought of, and when we find the answer it is one of the most exciting times. Third, having served on the Admissions Committee for the past six years, I always ask applicants if they have any research exposure. Most do, but some tell me that they don’t like research because they want to be around people. So, I guess most people think of researcher as loners. But, most of us are not loners, we are nerds. We have fun and can actually carry on a reasonable conversation with others, as long as we don’t have to look directly at them.
What would you tell a student interested in a research career?
As with any profession, you have to be prepared for good times and lean times. You don’t enter a career in science because of money or fame, because both of those are hard to come by. You enter a career in science because you love to ask questions and find answers. Research is not glamorous, but it provides the basic insight and vision for future cures. So, if that is exciting to you, then research may be the right career choice.
List three things few people know about you.
- First, most people are surprised that I drive a truck. I don’t know why, but they are.
- Second, I have never tasted coffee. Again, this surprises people.
- Third, I hate snow. This needs no explanation.