image: Dale Boger, Ph.D., is chair of the Department of Chemistry, the Richard and Alice Cramer Professor of Chemistry and a member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at the Scripps Research Institute. view more
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Scripps Research Institute.
LA JOLLA, CA – April 29, 2014 – Two scientists from San Diego county—Dale Boger and Benjamin Cravatt of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI)—have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their "distinguished and continuing achievements in original research," the academy announced today.
"Simply put, Dale and Ben are outstanding scientists," said TSRI President and CEO Michael A. Marletta. "Their contributions are remarkable and it is fitting they have been recognized by the nation's most prestigious scientific society. Additionally, I admire their dedication to Scripps—they are exemplary citizens of our community. I have always been immensely proud of them and, if possible, I am even more so today."
Dale Boger, who is chair of the Department of Chemistry, Richard and Alice Cramer Professor of Chemistry and member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at TSRI, works on the total synthesis of biologically active natural products, using the tools of organic synthesis to identify, imitate, understand, exploit and sometimes surpass what nature provides.
Benjamin Cravatt, who is chair of the Department of Chemical Physiology, professor in the Dorris Neuroscience Center and member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at TSRI, studies the action and regulation of chemical messengers, particularly the fatty acid amides, which mediate physiological phenomena such as pain sensation, sleep and thermoregulation. He designs and uses chemical probes for "active site proteomics," the global analysis of protein function.
Boger and Cravatt are among the academy's 84 new members and 21 foreign associates from 15 countries.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership and, along with other groups, provides science, technology and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.
Other National Academy of Science members at TSRI are Floyd Bloom, Francis Chisari, Gerald Edelman, Gerald Joyce, Richard Lerner, Michael Marletta, Michael B.A. Oldstone, Julius Rebek, Paul Schimmel, Peter Schultz, K. Barry Sharpless, Peter Vogt, Charles Weissmann, Chi-Huey Wong, Peter Wright and Kurt Wüthrich.