Peter Reddien named Searle Scholar
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (April 11, 2006) — Whitehead
Member Peter
Reddien is one of 15 scientists to be awarded the
2006 Searle Scholarship. Each awardee receives $240,000
over a period of three years to support their research.
Reddien was chosen out of 173 applicants representing
over 130 universities and research institutions.
“I am delighted to be selected as a Searle Scholar
and by the opportunity it provides my laboratory for
the exploration of our ideas,” says Reddien.
“In selecting the Scholars, the Board looked for
individuals who have already demonstrated innovative
research with the potential for making significant contributions
to biological research over an extended period of time,”
according to a statement released by the Searle Scholars
Program.
Reddien, who is also an assistant professor of Biology
at MIT, focuses on the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea,
a flatworm whose ability to regenerate cells and tissues
is virtually unrivaled in nature. When cut in half,
the flatworm can regrow both a new tail and a new head.
In fact, if a small fraction of the flatworm’s
body is excised, an entirely new animal can develop
from this tiny piece. The flatworm accomplishes regeneration
through neoblasts—cells that share many characteristics
with embryonic stem cells and can differentiate into
essentially all cells found in adult animals.
So far, Reddien has identified genes necessary for neoblasts
to regenerate tissue. Recently, he discovered the mechanism
of a key gene involved in the process, a gene that has
a homologue in humans. This research provides a deeper
understanding of both regeneration and stem cell biology.
Reddien is now the fifth Whitehead Member to receive
this honor. Others include Terry Orr-Weaver (1988),
David Page (1989), Hazel Sive (1992), and David Bartel
(1997).
Since the program began in 1981, 408 Searle Scholars
have shared over $73,380,000 in grants. The funds that
support the awards come from trusts established under
the wills of John and Frances Searle. |
