Ira Black
Encyclopedia
Ira Barrie Black was an American
physician
and neuroscientist
who was an advocate of stem cell
research and was the first director of the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
which was created to advance research in the field.
on March 18, 1941, Black graduated from the Bronx High School of Science
. He did his undergraduate studies at Columbia University
and was awarded his M.D.
from Harvard Medical School
in 1965.
Black was an advocate for research using stem cells to repair damage from such conditions as cancer
and Alzheimer's disease
and his own research showed that the technique could be used to encourage the body's own stem cells to create needed new cells and as a form of gene therapy
. Studies he performed in 2000 that were published in The Journal of Neuroscience Research showed that when an antioxidant
was added to stem cells extracted from bone marrow
, the undifferentiated stem cells transformed into cells with the characteristics of neuron
s within minutes and were successfully transplanted into the brains and spinal cord
s of rats. The results were called "an incredible achievement" in opening the path to creating treatments for conditions that had been previously untreatable by using stem cells to create needed cells of different forms. Black's approach was to use neurons developed from the individual's own adult stem cells to avoid issues of transplant rejection
without requiring modifications to the genome, while avoiding the ethical concerns raised with the use of embryonic stem cells.
The Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey, formed following the passage of legislation in 2004 making New Jersey
the second state in the nation to approve stem cell research, named him as its first director. Affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
, he served there as chairman of the department of neuroscience and cell biology. As director of the Stem Cell Institute, he expressed his frustration with federal opposition to embryonic stem cell research, stating that the therapies that could result from such studies had the potential to "get patients out of bed and out of wheelchairs" and that the researchers in the U.S. were trailing those elsewhere who were able to make further progress in their studies.
In 1992, Black served a term as president of the Society for Neuroscience
. Published works include his 1991 book Information in the Brain: A Molecular Perspective and the 2002 publication of The Changing Brain: Alzheimer's Disease and Advances in Neuroscience.
and Andes, New York
, Black died at age 64 of sepsis
related to a cancerous tumor on January 10, 2006, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia. He was survived by his son. He divorced his wife, the former Janet Linquist, in 1999.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and neuroscientist
Neuroscientist
A neuroscientist is an individual who studies the scientific field of neuroscience or any of its related sub-fields...
who was an advocate of stem cell
Stem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
research and was the first director of the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is a public medical school located in Piscataway and New Brunswick, New Jersey, and one of the eight schools of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey . In cooperation with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the medical school’s principal...
which was created to advance research in the field.
Early life and education
Born in the BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
on March 18, 1941, Black graduated from the Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
. He did his undergraduate studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and was awarded his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in 1965.
Professional career
He was on the faculty of the Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University from 1975 to 1990, serving as the director of its Laboratory of Developmental Neurology.Black was an advocate for research using stem cells to repair damage from such conditions as cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and his own research showed that the technique could be used to encourage the body's own stem cells to create needed new cells and as a form of gene therapy
Gene therapy
Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...
. Studies he performed in 2000 that were published in The Journal of Neuroscience Research showed that when an antioxidant
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...
was added to stem cells extracted from bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
, the undifferentiated stem cells transformed into cells with the characteristics of neuron
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
s within minutes and were successfully transplanted into the brains and spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
s of rats. The results were called "an incredible achievement" in opening the path to creating treatments for conditions that had been previously untreatable by using stem cells to create needed cells of different forms. Black's approach was to use neurons developed from the individual's own adult stem cells to avoid issues of transplant rejection
Transplant rejection
Transplant rejection occurs when transplanted tissue is rejected by the recipient's immune system, which destroys the transplanted tissue. Transplant rejection can be lessened by determining the molecular similitude between donor and recipient and by use of immunosuppressant drugs after...
without requiring modifications to the genome, while avoiding the ethical concerns raised with the use of embryonic stem cells.
The Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey, formed following the passage of legislation in 2004 making New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
the second state in the nation to approve stem cell research, named him as its first director. Affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is the state-run health sciences institution of New Jersey, United States. It has eight distinct academic units...
, he served there as chairman of the department of neuroscience and cell biology. As director of the Stem Cell Institute, he expressed his frustration with federal opposition to embryonic stem cell research, stating that the therapies that could result from such studies had the potential to "get patients out of bed and out of wheelchairs" and that the researchers in the U.S. were trailing those elsewhere who were able to make further progress in their studies.
In 1992, Black served a term as president of the Society for Neuroscience
Society for Neuroscience
The Society for Neuroscience is a professional society, headquartered in Washington, D.C., for basic scientists and physicians around the world whose research is focused on the study of the brain and nervous system.-History:...
. Published works include his 1991 book Information in the Brain: A Molecular Perspective and the 2002 publication of The Changing Brain: Alzheimer's Disease and Advances in Neuroscience.
Personal
A resident of Skillman, New JerseySkillman, New Jersey
Skillman is an unincorporated area within Montgomery Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08558. It is also home to Johnson and Johnson's consumer division.- History :...
and Andes, New York
Andes (town), New York
Andes is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2000 census.The Town of Andes formerly contained a village with the same name...
, Black died at age 64 of sepsis
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
related to a cancerous tumor on January 10, 2006, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The hospital was founded at its current location in 1874 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,...
in Philadelphia. He was survived by his son. He divorced his wife, the former Janet Linquist, in 1999.