Phillip D. Zamore
Alma materHarvard University, Whitehead Institute
Known forsmall RNA biology and therapeutics
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry, molecular biology
InstitutionsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Academic advisorsMichael Green, Ruth Lehmann, David Bartel, and James R. Williamson
Websitezamorelab.umassmed.edu

Phillip D. Zamore is an American molecular biologist and developed the first in vitro system for studying the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). He is the Gretchen Stone Cook Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology[1] at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, located in Worcester, Massachusetts. Zamore is the chair of the RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI) at UMass Chan Medical School, established in 2009, and has been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 2008.[2]  

Research

The Zamore lab at the RTI focuses on understanding the underlying processes of RNAi; how small RNAs (miRNA, siRNA, piRNA) are involved in gene regulation networks.[3] In addition to a focus on basic research, the Zamore lab is working to develop novel nucleic acid-based drugs to treat human disease.[2] Dr. Zamore has more than 60,000 citations on Google Scholar.[4]

Biography

Zamore received his A.B. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1986 and continued graduate studies with Michael Green at Harvard, receiving his Ph.D. in 1992.[1] After completing postdoctoral studies at The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT and the Skirball Institute at New York University Medical Center with Ruth Lehmann, David Bartel, and James R. Williamson, Zamore began his academic career as an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in 1999 at UMass Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he is now the Gretchen Stone Cook Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology.

Involvement with biotechnology

Zamore's research has led to a career in biotechnology, co-founding Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in 2002.[5] Alnylam is dedicated to bringing RNAi based therapies to market and developed the first-ever FDA approved RNAi drug, Patisiran, gaining FDA approval in August 2018.[6] In 2014, Dr. Zamore co-founded another RNAi based company; Voyager Therapeutics,[7] which focuses on developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.

Selected awards and honors

  • Elected to the National Academy of Medicine, 2023[8]
  • Elected to the National Academy of Sciences, 2023[9]
  • Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2023[10]
  • Invented Here! Honoree, Boston Patent Law Association, for US patent US 9,226,976, “RAAV- Based Compositions and Methods for Treating Alpha-1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiencies,” 2017
  • Paper of the Year (Salomon et al., Cell 2015), Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society[11]
  • Recipient, Chancellor's Medal for Excellence in Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2014[12]
  • “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014,” Molecular Biology & Genetics, Thomson-Reuters[13]
  • Top 20 Translational Researchers of 2014, Nature Biotechnology[14]
  • Fellow, National Academy of Inventors, 2014[15]
  • Outstanding Research Achievement, Nature Biotechnology SciCafé, 2009
  • Schering-Plough Award, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2009
  • Most Highly Cited Researchers, 2002–2012 (Thomson-Reuters)[1]
  • W.M. Keck Foundation Young Scholar in Medical Research, 2002–2007
  • Top 20 Most Highly Cited Researchers in Molecular Biology and Genetics, 2002–2006, ScienceWatch (Thomson Scientific)[2]
  • Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, 2000–2004[16]

Selected publications

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Phillip Zamore | Profiles RNS". profiles.umassmed.edu. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  2. 1 2 3 "Phillip D. Zamore, PhD". HHMI.org. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  3. ↑ "Phillip Zamore's Laboratory". Phillip Zamore's Laboratory. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
  4. ↑ "Phillip D. Zamore - Google Scholar Citations". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  5. ↑ "Alnylam SAB".
  6. ↑ "FDA approval of Alnylam drug is first ever for RNAi-based therapy - STAT". STAT. 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  7. ↑ "Founders". Voyager Therapeutics. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  8. ↑ "National Academy of Medicine Elects 100 New Members". October 9, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2023 NAS Election". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  10. ↑ "New Members". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  11. ↑ "Paper of the Year - Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society". Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  12. ↑ "Chancellor's Medals". University of Massachusetts Medical School. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  13. ↑ "Three UMMS scientists named in 2014 Thomson Reuters Report on most influential scientific minds". University of Massachusetts Medical School. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  14. ↑ Huggett, Brady; Paisner, Kathryn (2015). "Top 20 translational researchers of 2014". Bioentrepreneur. 33 (9): 897. doi:10.1038/bioe.2015.9. PMID 26349903.
  15. ↑ "Search Fellows - National Academy of Inventors". academyofinventors.org. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  16. ↑ "Phillip D. Zamore, Ph.D." www.pewtrusts.org. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
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