Six Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis faculty named AAAS fellows

Oct. 25, 2007 -- Six faculty from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society. The highest honor awarded by AAAS, the rank of fellow is bestowed upon members by their peers in recognition of scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

The Washington University School of Medicine honorees are:

• Stephen M. Beverley, Ph.D., Marvin A. Brennecke Professor and head of the Department of Molecular Microbiology, was elected to the Section on Biological Sciences for the development and application of molecular genetic tools to the study of how protozoan parasites cause disease.

• Jonathan D. Gitlin, M.D., Helene B. Roberson Professor of Pediatrics, professor of genetics and of pathology and immunology, was elected to the Section on Medical Sciences for distinguished contributions to the field of metals in biology and for groundbreaking discoveries on absorption, metabolism and distribution of metals in health and disease.

• Eduardo A. Groisman, Ph.D., professor of molecular microbiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator in Molecular Microbiology, was elected to the Section on Medical Sciences for innovative research investigating mechanisms by which bacteria modulate expression of their genes in response to environmental stimuli and are able to survive within cells of the host.

• John E. Heuser, M.D., professor of cell biology and physiology, was elected to the Section on Neuroscience for distinguished, groundbreaking contributions in deep-etch and freeze-fracture electron microscopy.

• Robert P. Mecham, Ph.D., Alumni Endowed Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology, professor of pediatrics and of medicine, was elected to the Section on Biological Sciences for distinguished contributions to the field of elastic fibers, particularly for analysis of elastic fiber composition and assembly, and the cell biology of elastin.

• Helen M. Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and physiology and of medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator in Cell Biology and Physiology, was elected to the Section on Biological Sciences for distinguished contributions to the field of cell biology, particularly cell cycle regulation and its implications for understanding human cancer.

This year's fellows are announced in the Oct. 26 edition of the journal Science, published by AAAS.

An international non-profit organization, AAAS is dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. Founded in 1848, the association includes some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science serving 10 million individuals.

Washington University School of Medicine's 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation, currently ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

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