PHILADELPHIA — Perelman School of Medicine professors Gideon Dreyfuss, PhD, the Isaac Norris Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Beatrice H. Hahn, MD, professor of Medicine and Microbiology, along with Nancy Bonini, PhD, the Lucille B. Williams Professor of Biology in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences, have been elected members of the National Academy of Sciences, considered one of the highest honors accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer.
Selected for "their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research," the three scientists are part of the 2012 Academy class of 84 members and 21 foreign associates from 15 countries.
Dreyfuss examines how RNA and associated proteins function in degenerative diseases. Hahn studies the origins, evolution, and disease mechanisms of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses. Bonini investigates the fruit fly to identify genes that play crucial roles in human brain disease. Both Dreyfuss and Bonini are also Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators.
For full release on all Penn winners, visit http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/three-penn-faculty-elected-national-academy-sciences. A full list of 2012 Academy Members is at http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/2012_05_01_NAS_Election.html.
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