UCLA scientists receive honors for their
work
David Eisenberg and Peter Tontonoz , medical researchers at
UCLA, won one of the nation’s highest honors when they were
named scientific investigators for the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute.
Based in Chevy Chase, Md., the biomedical research organization
uses part of its $13 billion endowment to employ some of the
country’s outstanding investigators in collaborative
agreements with their universities.
Eisenberg and Tontonoz were chosen as two of 48 winners from a
national competition that attracted 420 nominations of scientists
from some 200 universities and research centers.
The Institute will spend between $500,000 to $1 million a year
on each new investigator, including support to the host institution
for graduate training and library resources.
“Dr. Eisenberg and Dr. Tontonoz are two extraordinarily
talented investigators who possess the scientific curiosity,
intellect and expertise necessary for achieving major biomedical
advances,” Dr. Gerald Levey, dean of the medical school and
provost of the medical sciences, said in a statement.
Eisenberg, was recognized for his discoveries in the emerging
field of computational biology. His team has created new methods
that scientists use to complete missing genome sequences.
Tontonoz was tapped by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an
assistant investigator. The endowment will support his study of
nuclear receptors ““ proteins that switch on particular genes
in the presence of hormones.
Actor, activist Rob Reiner to accept UCLA
Medal
Actor, director and children’s advocate Rob Reiner will
receive the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor, and
address graduates June 18 at School of Public Health commencement
ceremonies.
Reiner and his wife, Michele Springer Reiner, co-founded the I
Am Your Child Campaign and Foundation, a national endeavor to
increase public spending on early childhood programs.
Reiner subsequently helped lead the passage of
California’s Proposition 10, which will generate $760 million
annually for early childhood programs from the creation of a new
tobacco tax.
Reiner also chairs the California Children and Families First
Commission.
“The UCLA Medal is a fitting tribute to Mr. Reiner’s
record of public service,” Dean Abdelmonem Afifi of the
School of Public Health said in a statement.
The commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m.
June 18 at Royce Hall.
Groups hosts academy for elected officials
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the Asian Pacific
American Institute for Congressional Studies have selected 16
elected officials to participate in the second annual Leadership
Academy for Asian Pacific American Elected Officials.
The Leadership Academy, a nonpartisan leadership training
program, will be held in Washington, D.C., Thursday through
Saturday.
The training will include sessions with current and former
elected officials, Congressional staffers, political and public
relations consultants, fundraisers, print and broadcast
journalists, and other political experts.
The Leadership Academy participants include Democrats,
Republicans and Independents of many different ethnic backgrounds
and will come from across the country, including Massachusetts,
Wisconsin, California, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
“This group of participants includes a number of
trailblazers,” Don Nakanishi, director of the UCLA Asian
American Studies Center, said in a statement.
Compiled from Daily Bruin staff and wire reports.