
A day-long symposium celebrating the life, achievements and scientific contributions of Michael R. Green, MD, PhD, is being held at UMass Chan Medical School on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The symposium, “Celebrating the Life, Impact and Legacy of Michael R. Green, MD, PhD,” will feature more than a dozen speakers, including welcome remarks from Chancellor Michael F. Collins and a presentation by Dr. Green’s brother, Eric D. Green, MD, PhD, director of NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute, titled, “Michael R. Green: From Philadelphia to a Trailblazer in the ‘Family Business.’”
Dr. Green died at the age of 69 in February. He was vice provost for strategic research initiatives and chair and professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology at UMass Chan. He devoted his career to researching and understanding the mechanisms that regulate gene expression in mammalian cells and how alterations in gene regulation cause and impact cancer and other human diseases.
“Michael combined world class research with generous service to the institution. He set an example for all of us as we were building our careers, and his involvement in making UMass Chan a better place inspired me and others to take up leadership positions,” said Phillip D. Zamore, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, the Gretchen Stone Cook Chair in Biomedical Sciences, and chair and professor of RNA therapeutics.
Dr. Zamore is one of three co-organizers of the event, alongside Dr. Eric Green and Nobel Laureate Craig C. Mello, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, the Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine and distinguished professor of RNA therapeutics and molecular medicine.
As many as 300 people are expected to attend the symposium both in-person and remotely.
“The program’s speakers will straddle the line between reminiscing about Michael in the ways in which he was a wonderful role model for other scientists and leaders and also tell quite a few stories about his sometimes irreverent approach,” Zamore said. “There will be some science, but our goal is to have the talks be accessible and meaningful to both scientists and nonscientists alike.”
Green served as director of the UMass Cancer Center, co-director of the Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research and as the Lambi and Sarah Adams Chair in Genetic Research. He was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator for nearly 25 years and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the European Molecular Biology Organization.
The symposium will start at 9 a.m. in the Albert Sherman Center. Tickets are available and free of charge. Refreshments will be provided.