Almost simultaneously, the two produced strains of mice -- one in which deletion of a specific gene closely mimicked a severe childhood neurological disease and the other in which the faulty gene was corrected.
"Their novel approach to the creation of specific mutant mice revolutionized mammalian genetics," the statement said. "It created opportunities in biomedical research never before seen in the 20th century. This elegant approach has led to developmentof many thousands of useful mouse models, many of which simulate human disease states -- including cystic fibrosis, atherosclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer.
"The creation of these mouse models strainsforms the basis for rapid advances in diagnosis, treatment and cure of human disease. The inventive discoveries" are of "monumental importance."
Recently, along with his wife Dr. Nobuyo Madea, the UNC scientist has been studying high blood pressure -- a major human problem -- using genetically altered mice they created.
A member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Smithies already has earned many international, national and state awards, including the 2001 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, often called the "America's Nobel." Other honors include two Gairdner awards, the Alfred P. Sloan Award of the General Motors Foundation, the Ciba Award of the American Heart Association, the Bristol Myers Squibb Award for cardiovascular and metabolic disease research, a North Carolina Award in Science and the International Okamoto Award from the Japan Vascular Disease Rese
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Contact: David Williamson
919-962-8596
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
29-Aug-2002