Paul Eston Lacy
Encyclopedia
Paul Eston Lacy, M.D., Ph.D. (February 7, 1924 - February 15, 2005) was an anatomist & experimentalist and one of the world’s leading diabetes mellitus
researchers. He is often credited as the originator of islet transplantation.
in Columbus, OH, both as an undergraduate and a medical student, obtaining B.S. and M.D. degrees in 1944 and 1948, respectively. From there Lacy matriculated to the Mayo Clinic
& Mayo Foundation in Rochester, MN, for graduate work in anatomy & experimental pathology. He was awarded a Ph.D.
degree in that discipline by the University of Minnesota
in 1955.
, St. Louis, MO. He undertook research into the characterization of endocrine cells in the pancreas
, utilizing ultrastructural and fluorescent-antibody-labeling methods. That extramurally-funded work resulted in a better understanding of how beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans
produced and exported insulin
, and it steadily pushed Lacy up through the academic ranks.
In 1961, Lacy was named the sixth chairman of Pathology at Washington University, having been preceded by Dr. Eugene Lindsay Opie
, Dr. Leo Loeb
, Dr. Howard McCordock, Dr. Robert Alan Moore, and Dr. Stanley Hartroft. The last of those individuals had concentrated his efforts almost exclusively at building a strong research program in the department, and Lacy furthered that process. Indeed, never having been trained in a clinical patient-care specialty, he took only passing interest in surgical pathology or laboratory medicine. That was ironic, because Dr. Lauren Ackerman
—one of the preeminent surgical pathologists of all time—was concurrently a faculty member in the Department of Surgery at Washington University. Ultimately, Lacy did invite Ackerman to join his department; subsequently, the two had a reasonably cordial but somewhat-distant professional relationship for the next decade.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Lacy collaborated with Dr. Walter F. Ballinger, chairperson of Surgery at Washington University, on the experimental technique of beta islet-cell transplantion in animals as a treatment for diabetes mellitus. In 1989, that work eventuated in the first successful islet-cell transplant in a human being. Research into the procedure continues, but as of 2010 it had not been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as a mainstream clinical therapy.
Lacy stepped down from his Pathology chairmanship in 1984, to be succeeded by Dr. Emil R. Unanue
, who was similarly a basic scientist rather than a clinical physician. Lacy remained on the Washington University faculty and retained an active role in diabetes research for another 20 years thereafter.
(idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). That condition took his life on February 15, 2005. He is buried in Zanesville, OH.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
researchers. He is often credited as the originator of islet transplantation.
Education
Lacy was born in Trinway, OH in February, 1924. He was educated at the Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in Columbus, OH, both as an undergraduate and a medical student, obtaining B.S. and M.D. degrees in 1944 and 1948, respectively. From there Lacy matriculated to the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
& Mayo Foundation in Rochester, MN, for graduate work in anatomy & experimental pathology. He was awarded a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in that discipline by the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1955.
Career in St. Louis, Missouri
In 1955, Lacy was appointed as an assistant professor in the Department of Anatomy at Washington University School of MedicineWashington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the graduate schools of Washington University in St. Louis. One of the top medical schools in the United States, it is currently ranked 4th for research according to U.S. News and World Report and has been listed...
, St. Louis, MO. He undertook research into the characterization of endocrine cells in the pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
, utilizing ultrastructural and fluorescent-antibody-labeling methods. That extramurally-funded work resulted in a better understanding of how beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans
Islets of Langerhans
The islets of Langerhans are the regions of the pancreas that contain its endocrine cells. Discovered in 1869 by German pathological anatomist Paul Langerhans at the age of 22, the islets of Langerhans constitute approximately 1 to 2% of the mass of the pancreas...
produced and exported insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
, and it steadily pushed Lacy up through the academic ranks.
In 1961, Lacy was named the sixth chairman of Pathology at Washington University, having been preceded by Dr. Eugene Lindsay Opie
Eugene Lindsay Opie
Eugene Lindsay Opie, M.D. was an American physician and pathologist who conducted important research on the causes, transmission, and diagnosis of tuberculosis and on immunization against the disease. He served as professor of pathology at several U.S. medical schools, as well as Dean of the...
, Dr. Leo Loeb
Leo Loeb
Leo Loeb, M.D. , was a renowned American physician, educator, and experimental pathologist.-Early life:...
, Dr. Howard McCordock, Dr. Robert Alan Moore, and Dr. Stanley Hartroft. The last of those individuals had concentrated his efforts almost exclusively at building a strong research program in the department, and Lacy furthered that process. Indeed, never having been trained in a clinical patient-care specialty, he took only passing interest in surgical pathology or laboratory medicine. That was ironic, because Dr. Lauren Ackerman
Lauren Ackerman
Lauren Vedder Ackerman was a prestigious American pathologist, who championed the subspecialty of surgical pathology in the mid-twentieth century.- Early life :...
—one of the preeminent surgical pathologists of all time—was concurrently a faculty member in the Department of Surgery at Washington University. Ultimately, Lacy did invite Ackerman to join his department; subsequently, the two had a reasonably cordial but somewhat-distant professional relationship for the next decade.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Lacy collaborated with Dr. Walter F. Ballinger, chairperson of Surgery at Washington University, on the experimental technique of beta islet-cell transplantion in animals as a treatment for diabetes mellitus. In 1989, that work eventuated in the first successful islet-cell transplant in a human being. Research into the procedure continues, but as of 2010 it had not been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as a mainstream clinical therapy.
Lacy stepped down from his Pathology chairmanship in 1984, to be succeeded by Dr. Emil R. Unanue
Emil R. Unanue
Dr. Emil Raphael Unanue is an immunologist and the current Paul & Ellen Lacy Professor at Washington University School of Medicine. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine...
, who was similarly a basic scientist rather than a clinical physician. Lacy remained on the Washington University faculty and retained an active role in diabetes research for another 20 years thereafter.
Personal life
Lacy had a keen interest in literature, art, and music. He was married to his first wife, Ellen, for more than 50 years; the couple had 2 sons. Mrs. Lacy died in 1998 of lung cancer. In 2002, Lacy married Bonnie Mattingly. The following year, Dr. Lacy developed usual interstitial pneumoniaUsual interstitial pneumonia
Usual interstitial pneumonia is a form of lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of both lungs. The scarring involves the supporting framework of the lung. UIP is thus classified as a form of interstitial lung disease. The term "usual" refers to the fact that UIP is the most common...
(idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). That condition took his life on February 15, 2005. He is buried in Zanesville, OH.