Elizabeth Helen Blackburn
Personal Information
Born: 1948
Country of Birth: Australia
Nationality: Australia; USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
1970, BS Biochemistry, 1972, MS Biochemistry, University of Melbourne; 1975, PhD Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge; 1975-77, Postdoctoral work, Yale University
Professional Life
Field of Study: Molecular biology; Medical Ethics
Institution/Corporation: UC Berkeley; UC San Francisco; Yale University; Salk Institute
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: Yale University 1991, Harvard University 2006, Princeton University 2007; Member: President of Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 2016-17; President of American Association for Cancer Research 2010; President of American Society for Cell Biology, 1998; Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, 1993; Institute of Medicine, 2000; Board of Genetics Society of America, 2000-02; American Philosophical Society, 2006;Fellow American Academy of Arts & Sciences 1991, Fellow The Royal society 1992, Fellow american Academy of MIcrobiology, Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science 2000, Fellow Australian Academy of Science 2007, Corresponding Fellow Australian Academy of Science 2007, Fellow Royal Academy of New South Wales 2010
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2009, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; 1990, NAS Award in Molecular Biology; 1995, Australia Prize; 1999, Harvey Prize; 2000, Dickson Prize; 2004, Heineken Prize; 2006, Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research; 2007, Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, Columbia University; 2004, ASCB Public Service Award; 2006, Meyenburg Prize; 2008, L Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science; 2012, AIC Gold Medal; 1988, Eli Lilly Research Award for Microbiology & Immunology; 1998, Gairdner Foundation International Prize; 1990, Keio Medical Science Prize; 1999, Paisano Award; 1999, California Scientist of the Year; 2000, American Academy of Achievement s Golden Plate Award; 2000, American Association for Cancer Research-GHA Clowes Memorial Award; 2000, American Cancer Society Medal of Honor; 2001, AACR-Pezcoller Foundation International Award for Cancer Research; 2001, General Motors Cancer Research Foundation Alfred P. Sloan Award; 2001, E.B.Wilson Award of the American Society for Cell Biology; 2003, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Award; 2003, Robert J. & Claire Pasarow Foundation Medical Research Award; 2005, Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Sciences, Franklin Institute; 2006, Genetics Prize, Peter Gruber Foundation; 2006, Wiley Prize in Biomedical Science, Wiley Foundation; USSF Women s Faculty Association Award; 2008, Albany Medical Center Prize; 2008, Pearl Meister Greengard Prize; 2008, Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women; 2010, Victorian Honour Roll of Women; 2009, Mike Hogg Award; 2010, Companion of the Order of Australia (Australia Day Honours); 2011, California Hall of Fame; 2015, the Royal Medal of the Royal Society; 2007, Time Magazine s 100 People Who Shape Our World; 2009, Paul Ehrlich & Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize
Achievements: 1984, discovered nature & activity of telomere & telomerase enzyme; first Australian female Nobel Prize laureate; co-founder of Telomere Health; 2015, President of Salk Institute for Biological Studies; appointed to President s Council on Bioethics 2002, fired 2004 for oppossing presidential policy against stem-cell research
2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Carol W. Greider & Jack W. Szostak for the discovery of telomerase
1st Australian female Nobel Laureate
2002, appointed to President's Council of bioethics; terminated by the Bush Administration in 2004 for her opposition to their policy against stem cell research; 170 scientists signed an open letter to the President maintaining she was fired because of political opposition to her advice & some scientists argued her firing was a violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 which requires "balance on such advisory bodies"
Teaches chronic stress, unhappiness, lack of sleep, & exercise lead to shortening of telomerase & increase the effects of aging
Holds 6 patents