Victor Ambros, an influential scientist in the field of molecular biology, particularly known for his pioneering work in the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs). While he has not won a Nobel Prize, his work is widely recognized as groundbreaking in molecular biology and genetics, significantly contributing to our understanding of gene regulation.
Victor Ambros and the Discovery of microRNAs
In 1993, Ambros and his
colleagues discovered the first microRNA, a small non-coding RNA molecule,
while studying the developmental biology of Caenorhabditis elegans (a type of
nematode). This discovery occurred while he was working on the lin-4 gene, a
gene involved in the developmental timing of the nematode. Ambros and his team
found that lin-4 did not encode a protein, but instead produced a short RNA
molecule that could regulate the expression of other genes by binding to their
mRNA. This led to the realization that small RNAs could control gene expression
at the post-transcriptional level.
Contributions to Medicine and Biology
Ambros' work on microRNAs opened up a new field of research in molecular biology and has had profound implications for medicine:
Gene Regulation: MicroRNAs are now known to play a critical role in regulating gene expression in many organisms, including humans. They are involved in controlling cell differentiation, development, proliferation, and apoptosis.
Cancer Research: One of the most significant medical implications of microRNA research is in the field of cancer. Aberrant expression of microRNAs has been linked to the development of various types of cancers. Understanding how these molecules function can help in identifying new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders: MicroRNAs are also implicated in the development of the nervous system and have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Research in this area is ongoing and promises to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions.
Potential Therapeutic Applications: Scientists are exploring the use of microRNA-based therapies to treat diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and viral infections. By targeting specific microRNAs, it may be possible to alter the expression of disease-causing genes.
Ambros was born in New Hampshire. His father, Longin, was a Polish war refugee. Victor grew up on a small dairy farm in Hartland, Vermont, in a family of eight children and attended Woodstock Union High School. From the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology, Ambros received a Bachelor of Science with a major in biology in 1975 and a Doctor of Philosophy in biology in 1979.His doctoral supervisor was David Baltimore, a 1975 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine. Ambros continued his research at MIT as the first postdoctoral fellow in the lab of future Nobel laureate H. Robert Horvitz.
Ambros became a faculty member at Harvard University in 1984. However, Harvard denied tenure to Ambros shortly after he discovered what is now known as microRNA.About this, Baltimore later said in 2008: "They lost a potential Nobel laureate because they simply didn’t see in him the potential that he had ... It’s the nature of a seminal discovery that it’s seminal in retrospect. You can’t know ahead of time."
Ambros joined the
faculty of Dartmouth College in 1992. He joined the faculty at the
University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2008, and currently holds the
title of Silverman Professor of Natural Sciences in the program in Molecular
Medicine, endowed by his former Dartmouth student, Howard Scott Silverman.
Recognition and Awards
Though Victor Ambros has not won a Nobel Prize, he has received numerous prestigious awards for his groundbreaking work, including:
- The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2015): Recognized for his discovery of microRNAs.
- The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (2008): Ambros shared this award with Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe for their contributions to the discovery and understanding of microRNAs
Here is the complete list of awards:
- 2002: Newcomb Cleveland Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for the most outstanding paper published in Science (co-recipient with the laboratories of David P. Bartel and Thomas Tuschl)
- 2004: Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Medical Research of Brandeis University (co-recipient with Craig Mello, Andrew Fire, and Gary Ruvkun)
- 2006: Genetics Society of America Medal for outstanding contributions in the past 15 years
- 2007: Elected to the National Academy of Sciences
- 2008: Gairdner Foundation International Award (co-recipient)
- 2008: Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science of The Franklin Institute (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe)
- 2008: The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe)
- 2008: Massachusetts General Hospital Warren Triennial Prize (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun)
- 2009: Dickson Prize from University of Pittsburgh in medicine
- 2009: Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun)
- 2009: Massry Prize from University of Southern California (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun)
- 2012: Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research from Johnson & Johnson (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun)
- 2013: Keio Medical Science Prize from Keio University (co-recipient with Shigekazu Nagata)
- 2014: Gruber Prize in Genetics from Gruber Foundation (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun and David Baulcombe)
- 2014: Wolf Prize in Medicine from Wolf Foundation (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun and Nahum Sonenberg)
- 2015: Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
- 2016: March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun)
- 2023: Highly Ranked Scholar by ScholarGPS
- 2024: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (co-recipient with Gary Ruvkun