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“You know that research is the most exciting and rewarding thing you could ever do,” said Dr. Rosenquist, vice chancellor for research at UNMC. “You’ve succeeded in doing original work. You are in an elite class of leaders in research.”
More than 200 colleagues, friends and family packed the Durham Research Center Auditorium for a ceremony March 20 to honor the researchers who are recognized leaders in their fields and among the most productive scientists in the country over the past five years.
They represented the colleges of dentistry, nursing, medicine, pharmacy and public health as well as the Eppley Institute. The awards, announced in January, followed an extensive, exhaustive and objective process, Dr. Rosenquist said.
“The process of selection of these awardees included a thorough analysis of all of the candidates, objectively comparing their publication quality and impact, and their history of successful competition for extramural funding,” he said.
The Distinguished Scientist award is sponsored by UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., who is one of the medical center’s most distinguished scientists for his internationally recognized expertise in rhabdomyosarcoma, a childhood cancer involving the soft tissue, Dr. Rosenquist said.
Dr. Maurer congratulated the award winners, noting that few institutions around the world recognize scientists in this manner.
“We honor teachers and clinicians, who are important, but today we honor biomedical research, which is fundamental to the mission of a strong medical center,” Dr. Maurer said. “If we are to be outstanding, our research has to be outstanding.”
He said his goal is for UNMC to reach the $200 million level in research funding by 2009.
“If we have good ideas, the money will come,” Dr. Maurer said.
In ancient Greece, the laurel was used to form a crown or wreath of honor for poets and heroes.
“We’re not going to do that here,” Dr. Rosenquist said, “but we are here to honor our scientist laureate, Dr. Zucker, recognized as one of the most outstanding researchers in the world.
“There are few scientists anywhere with his long record of outstanding achievement. He is recognized around the world, not only for the impact of his original work, but for his ability to nurture and inspire younger scientists. UNMC is truly fortunate to have been able to enjoy the benefit of Irv Zucker’s contributions for 30 years,” he said.
Irving Zucker, Ph.D., is the Theodore F. Hubbard Professor of Cardiovascular Research and chairman of cellular and integrative physiology, a post he has held since 1989.
He joined UNMC’s faculty in 1973, when a gallon of gasoline cost 63 cents, Dr. Rosenquist said.
“A great partnership between Dr. Zucker and UNMC has developed over these past 35 years,” he said.
Dr. Zucker studies the neural regulation of cardiovascular function, focusing on the cardiovascular reflex control of sympathetic nerve activity in animal models of chronic heart failure. He especially has been interested in the role of central mediators of sympathetic nerve activity such as angiotensin II and nitric oxide.
Research is a humbling profession and it takes a hard working team of people to make it happen, Dr. Zucker said, thanking his team for the successes achieved over the years.
He also thanked UNMC’s leadership for the freedom to do his research, his own administrative team and his family for their support.
Noted for his cooking, Dr. Zucker said, “Research is like cooking. It can be as creative and imaginative as you want to be. What’s been great about this position is that I’ve been paid to think and play with expensive high-tech toys.”
He closed by quoting Marie Curie, winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize in chemistry, who said: “Humanity needs practical men, who get the most out of their work, and, without forgetting the general good, safeguard their own interests. But humanity also needs dreamers, for whom the disinterested development of an enterprise is so captivating that it becomes impossible for them to devote their care to their own material profit. Without doubt, these dreamers do not deserve wealth, because they do not desire it. Even so, a well-organized society should assure to such workers the efficient means of accomplishing their task, in a life freed from material care and freely consecrated to research.”
Dr. Zucker said, “Thank you for allowing me to dream.”