Alexander Gordon Bearn

March 29, 1923 (age 86)

Surrey, South East England, United Kingdom

He died Friday, May 15, 2009 in Philadelphia. Prior to his death Bearn was working on a family history that followed the Bearn family from Béarn, France to Angus, Scotland and finally to the United States. degrees from the University of London. In 1966 he became professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine at Cornell University Medical College and physician-in-chief at New York Hospital. He remained at Cornell until 1979 when he was named senior vice-president for medical and scientific affairs of Merck, Sharpe & Dohme, International Division, from which he retired in 1988. His work in the area of human genetics and liver disease led him to define the genetic nature of Wilson"s Disease, which affects the liver and brain, and showed that the disease was associated with a deficiency in the blood of ceruloplasmin, a copper-binding protein. He also discovered that the urine level of B2 microglobulin, was a sensitive indicator of proximal renal tubular damage. This protein was later shown to be of great immunological importance as a part of the human leukocyte antigen histo-compatibility system. His laboratory also described a number of genetic variants in serum proteins that allowed for later work in serum enzymes. Bearn was the author of many scientific articles He has also written three scientific biographies Archibald Garrod and the Individuality of Manitoba, (Oxford University Press, 1993), Sir Clifford Allbutt (1834-1925): Scholar and Physician (Royal College of Physicians of London 2007), and Sir Francis Fraser: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine. (Book Guild Publishing, 2008). He served as a Trustee of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for eighteen years, becoming Trustee Emeritus in 2005. In 1970 Bearn joined the Rockefeller Board of Trustees and was elected Trustee Emeritus in 1998. He also served as a trustee of the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation, the Josiah Macy, Junior. Foundation and as an overseer of the Jackson Laboratory. During the academic year 1996-1997, he was named Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Christ’s College where he began his research on Clifford Allbutt. Bearn has a number of honorary degrees including an Doctor of Medicine(honorary) from Catholic University, of Korea (1968), Docteur (hc), Paris René Descartes (1975) and Honorary Alumnus, Cornell University Medical College, New York (1983).

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Works

book

Archibald Garrod & the Individuality of Man

(In this scholarly and insightful biography, Alexander G. ...)

Sir Clifford Allbutt: Scholar and Physician (History and Heritage Series of Monographs)

Sir Francis Richard Fraser, 1885-1964: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine

(Born in Edinburgh in 1885, Sir Francis Fraser helped revo...)

Alexander Gordon Bearn

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pharmaceutical executive physician researcher

Background

Bearn, Alexander Gordon was born on March 29, 1923 in Surrey, England. Arrived in the United States, 1951. Son of Edward Gordon Bearn.

Education

Bearn was educated in England at Epsom College, and received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the. He came to the Rockefeller University in 1951 and began his work on the genetics of rare metabolic diseases. He spent a sabbatical term at the Galton Laboratory at the University of London in 1958-1959.

In 1964 he was called to the Rockefeller University as professor and senior physician.

Career

He died Friday, May 15, 2009 in Philadelphia. Prior to his death Bearn was working on a family history that followed the Bearn family from Béarn, France to Angus, Scotland and finally to the United States. degrees from the University of London. In 1966 he became professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine at Cornell University Medical College and physician-in-chief at New York Hospital.

He remained at Cornell until 1979 when he was named senior vice-president for medical and scientific affairs of Merck, Sharpe & Dohme, International Division, from which he retired in 1988.

His work in the area of human genetics and liver disease led him to define the genetic nature of Wilson"s Disease, which affects the liver and brain, and showed that the disease was associated with a deficiency in the blood of ceruloplasmin, a copper-binding protein. He also discovered that the urine level of B2 microglobulin, was a sensitive indicator of proximal renal tubular damage.

This protein was later shown to be of great immunological importance as a part of the human leukocyte antigen histo-compatibility system. His laboratory also described a number of genetic variants in serum proteins that allowed for later work in serum enzymes.

Bearn was the author of many scientific articles

He has also written three scientific biographies Archibald Garrod and the Individuality of Manitoba, (Oxford University Press, 1993), Sir Clifford Allbutt (1834-1925): Scholar and Physician (Royal College of Physicians of London 2007), and Sir Francis Fraser: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine. (Book Guild Publishing, 2008). He served as a Trustee of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for eighteen years, becoming Trustee Emeritus in 2005.

In 1970 Bearn joined the Rockefeller Board of Trustees and was elected Trustee Emeritus in 1998.

He also served as a trustee of the Helen Hay Whitney Foundation, the Josiah Macy, Junior. Foundation and as an overseer of the Jackson Laboratory.

During the academic year 1996-1997, he was named Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Christ’s College where he began his research on Clifford Allbutt. Bearn has a number of honorary degrees including an Doctor of Medicine(honorary) from Catholic University, of Korea (1968), Docteur (hc), Paris René Descartes (1975) and Honorary Alumnus, Cornell University Medical College, New York (1983).

Achievements

Alexander Gordon Bearn has been listed as a notable company executive, physician, scientist by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

Archibald Garrod & the Individuality of Man Archibald Garrod & the Individuality of Man

Sir Clifford Allbutt: Scholar and Physician (History and Heritage Series of Monographs) Sir Clifford Allbutt: Scholar and Physician (History and Heritage Series of Monographs)

Sir Francis Richard Fraser, 1885-1964: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine Sir Francis Richard Fraser, 1885-1964: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine

book
- Sir Francis Richard Fraser, 1885-1964: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine
  (Born in Edinburgh in 1885, Sir Francis Fraser helped revo...)
- Archibald Garrod & the Individuality of Man
  (In this scholarly and insightful biography, Alexander G. ...)
- Sir Clifford Allbutt: Scholar and Physician (History and Heritage Series of Monographs)

Membership

Trustee Rockefeller University, 1971—1998, trustee emeritus, 1998—2009. Trustee Helen Hay Whitney Foundation, 1970—1997, Macy Foundation, 1981—1998, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 1987—2009. Fellow: American Association for the Advancement of Science, Royal College Physicians (London), Royal College Physicians (Edinburgh, Scotland).

Member: Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters (foreign associate), Medical Society London, Medical Research Society Great Britain, Association Physicians Great Britain and Ireland, Harveian Society London (council 1959), Harvey Society (president 1972-1973, Harvey lecturer 1975), Society Experimental Biology and Medicine, American Society Biological Chemists, Genetics Society of America, American Society Human Genetics (president 1971), American Society Clinical Investigation, Association American Physicians, American Philosophical Society (executive officer 1997—2002, vice president 1990-1996), Institute Medicine National Academy of Sciences, Century Association, Misquamicut Club (Watch Hill, Rhode Island), Knickerbocker Club, Philadelphia Club, Crail Golf Club (Scotland), Sigma Xi (president Rockefeller chapter 1962-1963).

Connections

Married Margaret Slocum, December 20, 1952. Children: Helen B. Pennoyer Elliot, Gordon Clarence Frederic.

Father:: Edward Gordon B. Bearn
Spouse:: Margaret Slocum
child:: Helen B. Pennoyer Elliot Bearn
child:: Gordon Clarence Frederic Bearn

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Connections

Connections

book

Archibald Garrod & the Individuality of Man

Sir Clifford Allbutt: Scholar and Physician (History and Heritage Series of Monographs)

Sir Francis Richard Fraser, 1885-1964: A Canny Scot Shapes British Medicine

Alexander Gordon Bearn

Background

Education

Career

Achievements

Works

book

Membership

Connections

Born

Died

Nationality

Religion

Education

1945

1951

1974

1968

Awards

David Rockefeller Award; Benjamin Franklin Medal