O'Malley Receives National Medal of Science

Bert O'Malley, M.D., and President George W. Bush

In a growing medical school and an international biomedical landscape full of offers and travel, it would have been easy for Bert O'Malley, M.D., Chair of Baylor College of Medicine's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, to fall prey to diversion. He avoided those distractions, however, remaining in the laboratory while marshalling a top basic science department to greater efforts. On September 29, 2008, the United States recognized that single-mindedness when President George W. Bush awarded him the National Medical of Science, along with seven other top researchers.

Winning the highest scientific honor in the nation is a thrill, said O'Malley. He is only the fifth scientific star in Texas to receive the honor, which recognizes pioneering scientific research in a range of fields, including biology, physics, mathematics, engineering and the social and behavioral sciences. At BCM, only the late Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., had received the award previously.

"It is a great surprise. It is certainly appreciated and is humbling," said O'Malley, who is often credited with birthing the field of molecular endocrinology. His fascination with hormones and their role in the cell began in medical school.

"Since I was a young medical student, I always was fascinated with the cell and how it works," he said. "I quickly realized that a cell (and the body) only springs into action when hormones stimulate the signaling and synthetic pathways inherent to the cells. My main interest then became 'how does the cell respond to its environmental signals?'"

Back inscription: "For his pioneering work on the molecular mechanisms of steroid hormone action and hormone receptors and coactivators, which has had a profound impact on our knowledge of steroid hormones in normal development and in diseases, including cancer."

Understanding the normal regulatory pathways and how they work in the cell is crucial because then it is easier to fix what goes wrong, causing disease, he said. That research became a lifelong quest for O'Malley. Each experiment generated new questions that led to new information that again raised new questions.

"As a naïve young scientist, I thought I might find the answer as to how steroid hormones (estrogen, androgen, cortisol, etc.) work in about five years," he said. "Now it has been more than 45 years, and I still don't understand all the details."

However, the details he has worked out have helped unravel the roles of co-activators through which steroid receptors work to regulate genes. Those findings have led to new understandings of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory disorders, reproductive and metabolic diseases. It also helped scientists understand how many drugs, such as tamoxifen (used in the treatment of breast cancer), work.

O'Malley said one of the delights of winning the award is how excited it has made his friends, colleagues and trainees and his family—wife Sally and four children.

"Finally, I should say that all of the credit belongs equally to the trainees and colleagues that have performed the work emanating from my ideas—and most of all, they must be shared by my loving family for their devotion and support of my life's passion for science."

Dr. O'Malley and members of his department

And the winner is... Members of the BCM Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology surprised their Chair, Bert O'Malley, M.D., with a celebration when it was announced O'Malley was a recipient of the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific honor.

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Volume 4, Issue 3, Winter 2008


	O'Malley Receives National Medal of Science by Ruth SoRelle, M.P.H. Bert O'Malley, M.D., and President George W. Bush It's always been about the science. In a growing medical school and an international biomedical landscape full of offers and travel, it would have been easy for Bert O'Malley, M.D., Chair of Baylor College of Medicine's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, to fall prey to diversion. He avoided those distractions, however, remaining in the laboratory while marshalling a top basic science department to greater efforts. On September 29, 2008, the United States recognized that single-mindedness when President George W. Bush awarded him the National Medical of Science, along with seven other top researchers. Winning the highest scientific honor in the nation is a thrill, said O'Malley. He is only the fifth scientific star in Texas to receive the honor, which recognizes pioneering scientific research in a range of fields, including biology, physics, mathematics, engineering and the social and behavioral sciences. At BCM, only the late Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., had received the award previously. "It is a great surprise. It is certainly appreciated and is humbling," said O'Malley, who is often credited with birthing the field of molecular endocrinology. His fascination with hormones and their role in the cell began in medical school. "Since I was a young medical student, I always was fascinated with the cell and how it works," he said. "I quickly realized that a cell (and the body) only springs into action when hormones stimulate the signaling and synthetic pathways inherent to the cells. My main interest then became 'how does the cell respond to its environmental signals?'" Back inscription: "For his pioneering work on the molecular mechanisms of steroid hormone action and hormone receptors and coactivators, which has had a profound impact on our knowledge of steroid hormones in normal development and in diseases, including cancer." Understanding the normal regulatory pathways and how they work in the cell is crucial because then it is easier to fix what goes wrong, causing disease, he said. That research became a lifelong quest for O'Malley. Each experiment generated new questions that led to new information that again raised new questions. "As a naïve young scientist, I thought I might find the answer as to how steroid hormones (estrogen, androgen, cortisol, etc.) work in about five years," he said. "Now it has been more than 45 years, and I still don't understand all the details." However, the details he has worked out have helped unravel the roles of co-activators through which steroid receptors work to regulate genes. Those findings have led to new understandings of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory disorders, reproductive and metabolic diseases. It also helped scientists understand how many drugs, such as tamoxifen (used in the treatment of breast cancer), work. O'Malley said one of the delights of winning the award is how excited it has made his friends, colleagues and trainees and his family—wife Sally and four children. "Finally, I should say that all of the credit belongs equally to the trainees and colleagues that have performed the work emanating from my ideas—and most of all, they must be shared by my loving family for their devotion and support of my life's passion for science." And the winner is... Members of the BCM Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology surprised their Chair, Bert O'Malley, M.D., with a celebration when it was announced O'Malley was a recipient of the National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific honor.		Search all issues: Features Baylor College of Medicine in Houston: 65 years of Excellence BCM Looks to the Future on the McNair Campus Legacy of Leadership: BCM Icons Set Foundation for the Future 1,000 Genomes Project: Looking for the Differences News O'Malley Receives National Medal of Science Robert Todd Named to Lead BCM's Department of Medicine Roy Huffington Remembered as Bold and Generous Spotlight Following his Passion—One Physician's Journey The Search for Answers When Two Degrees are Better Than One: M.D. - M.P.H. Thomas Street—The Road to Health Perceiving—A new Look at Brain and Behavior Briefs Mind Games Wang Wins NIH Award Genetics Used to Personalize Heart Disease Treatment First Drug for Huntington's Disease Eye Problems from Pain Free Migraines Obesity also Causes Cirrhosis Genetic Insights into Deadly Brain Tumor Made-to-Order Weapon in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer BCM Joins Largest Children's Study Development/Alumni Minds & Medicine Campaign Update: McNair Campus gets First Tenants -- Ophthalmology Philanthropy Provided Key Assistance Gifts Help Restore Sight to Patients with Corneal Damage Alums Start Careers, Life Together at BCM Development Briefs Campaign Reaches Milestone Charitable Gifts Lead to National Recognition Trustee Chuck Watson Makes Unique Gift The Legacy and the Future

	Volume 4, Issue 3, Winter 2008



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