In Memoriam

In memoriam: Teruko Tamura

ASBMB Today Staff
Sept. 20, 2021

Teruko Tamura, an influential cancer biochemist, died May 23 in Hannover, Germany. She was 71 years old.

Teruko Tamura

Born July 12, 1949, in Tokyo, Tamura studied veterinary medicine at the University of Tokyo. She never worked as a veterinary doctor but began doing research at the university. She moved to Germany in 1979 to join the institute for medical virology at the Justus Liebig University Giessen. In 1992, she became the third woman in the history of the university to complete a habilitation, Germany’s rigorous postdoctoral degree. Seeing how difficult it was to make a career as a woman in research, she started an initiative to support other talented women throughout their scientific careers. Tamura´s lab always included scientists from countries around the world.

Tamura made major contributions to several studies related to cancer research focusing on the Src and FMS-like tyrosine kinases and signal transduction, gaining a worldwide reputation in the field. In 1999, she discovered a protein, a new cell-fate decision factor termed FMIP/THOC5, and began the second part of her scientific journey. This novel protein is a substrate of oncogenic tyrosine kinases and also a member of the mRNA export complex. Her later work on the function of THOC5 revealed the novel connection between oncogenic signaling and mRNA export. 

In Giessen, Tamura met Hans-Heinrich Niemann, whom she later married. In 1996 the couple moved to Hannover to work at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. Both biochemists, they worked together until Niemann’s death in 1999.

Tamura was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2019. She continued her scientific work with the help of medicine and her longtime friend Thomas Bürger, whom she married in March 2021.

In addition to science, Tamura loved hiking in the mountains and classical music. She was a good piano player.

She is survived by her second husband, Thomas Bürger; her stepson, Steffen Niemann; niece and nephew, Ryoko and Ritzu Watanabe; and her research team.

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition weekly.

Learn more
ASBMB Today Staff

This article was written by a member or members of the ASBMB Today staff.

Related articles

In memoriam: Charles Kasper
Poornima Sankar
In memoriam: Jan van Eys
ASBMB Today Staff

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Awards for Maquat and Gohil; Sobrado named biochem chair
Member News

Awards for Maquat and Gohil; Sobrado named biochem chair

Dec. 9, 2024

Vishal Gohil is honored for work with copper. Lynn Maquat receives two awards for RNA research. Pablo Sobrado is named endowed chair of biochemistry.

What seems dead may not be dead
Award

What seems dead may not be dead

Dec. 4, 2024

Vincent Tagliabracci will receive the Earl and Thressa Stadtman Distinguished Scientist Award at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 12–15 in Chicago.

'You can't afford to be 15 years behind the parasite'
Award

'You can't afford to be 15 years behind the parasite'

Dec. 3, 2024

David Fidock will receive the Alice and C.C. Wang Award in Molecular Parasitology at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 12–15 in Chicago.

Elucidating how chemotherapy induces neurotoxicity
Award

Elucidating how chemotherapy induces neurotoxicity

Dec. 2, 2024

Andre Nussenzweig will receive the Bert and Natalie Vallee Award at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 12–15 in Chicago.

ASBMB committees welcome new members
Announcement

ASBMB committees welcome new members

Nov. 29, 2024

Committee members serve terms of two to five years, and a number of new members have joined. We also thank those whose terms have ended.

Curiosity turned a dietitian into a lipid scientist
Award

Curiosity turned a dietitian into a lipid scientist

Nov. 27, 2024

Judy Storch will receive the Avanti Award in Lipids at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting, April 12–15 in Chicago.