Professor Michael H. Gelb is an American biochemist and chemist specializing in enzymes and particularly those of medical significance.
Education
Gelb studied chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, Davis before taking a Doctor of Philosophy under Stephen G. Sligar at Yale University on aspects of the catalytic mechanism of cytochrome P450. Granted an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship, he then investigated mechanism-based inactivators of serine proteases and developed fluorinated ketones as tight-binding inhibitors of several classes of proteases, working with Robert H. Abeles at Brandeis University.
Career
He is the Harry and Catherine Jaynne Boand Endowed Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Washington in Seattle. He also teaches Honors Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Enzymology. Since 1985 Gelb has been a faculty member at the University of Washington in the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The Gelb laboratory uses a number of techniques in molecular and cellular biochemistry as well as synthetic organic chemistry to study enzymatic processes of biomedical significance.
Routine newborn screening of lysosomal storage diseases using technology developed in the Gelb laboratory was brought into use in New York state in 2006. Plans are underway to expand screening in other regions of the United States of America and in several other countries.
His current research interests include: 1) Studying the function and regulation of a group of enzymes called phospholipase A2 that are involved in lipid mediator biosynthesis related to inflammation. 2) Anti-malaria and anti-trypanosome drug discovery.
3) New technology for the newborn screening of enzyme deficiency diseases including lysosomal storage diseases.
In his spare time, Gelb enjoys surfing, playing classical guitar and muscle cars.