Science musings
By Ruth SoRelle, M.P.H.
The annual Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research awards, given to Baylor College of Medicine scientists whose published work over the past three years represents innovative insights into biology and disease, offer fertile ground for those who ponder not only the facts of science but its philosophy as well.
James Patrick, Ph.D., senior vice president and dean for research, set the tone at the recent ceremony when he said, "Science is one of the endeavors in which you can participate where there's no alternative. You can't go around problems."
This year, the awards went to Xin-Hua Feng, Ph.D., associate professor of surgery; Francesco DeMayo, Ph.D., professor of molecular and cellular biology; Daniel Medina, Ph.D., professor of molecular and cellular biology and Rongfu Wang, Ph.D., professor of pathology in the BCM Center for Cell and Gene Therapy. Each, in his own way, took that approach of solving the problem rather than finding a way around it. Once those problems are solved, they can then get to the ones beyond that one, and so forth.
Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., proved equally philosophic.
"I just want to say that having been a participant in the audience for these awards for a long period of time, I get the feeling that they are improving. I remember during the first awards ceremonies and listening to the presentations, that I thought, 'How wonderful. We have reached a point where our youngsters can do as well as our oldsters.' It gave me a great deal of pride." The pride continues as the work only gets better, he said.
Peter Traber, M.D., president of BCM, said that the awards represent to him one of the most important foundations upon which the College is built.
"One hundred years ago, medicine made a leap forward," he said. "That leap forward was connecting research, education and clinical care. Before that, research was not really part of medicine. Medical schools were trade schools."
Today, the medical research and care in the United States is top-notch, for the most part because of that leap. "The reason Baylor College of Medicine is an esteemed medical school in this country is because of the foundation of our science," said Traber. "An organization idles unless it is doing research."
Research is a driving force at BCM, he said. And that makes the DeBakey awards more and more important because they recognize what is innovative in the laboratories and clinics at the College.
