In memoriam: John Edmond
John Edmond, an emeritus professor of biological chemistry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, died Feb. 18 at age 85. He had been a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 1974.
Edmond was born Jan. 21, 1937, in the village of Fintry, in central Scotland. He went to Glasgow to earn his undergraduate degree and Ph.D. in chemistry, and spent some time as an assistant lecturer at the University of Glasgow. He studied lipids in a basic research lab at Shell Oil in England for several years before being recruited in 1968 to join the biological chemistry department at UCLA.
Edmond remained active in research for more than 30 years, studying developmental neurobiochemistry. He was interested in the need for nutrients to fuel rapid brain growth in newborns; his lab studied neonatal rats and cultured neurons and astrocytes to understand these nutritional demands. Later in his career, he studied the effects of carbon monoxide on the developing brain, demonstrating that even at levels that were then recognized as safe, the gas could permanently damage neurons and cause hearing loss.
"No task was too small to recruit his help," colleagues in his department recalled in an article they wrote about Edmond in March. His commitment to service encompassed years he spent volunteering in many capacities on the university's academic senate, including as chair, along with National Institutes of Health study sections and the editorial board of the Journal of Neuroscience Research.
Edmond is survived by his wife, Lorna; two children; and four grandchildren.
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition monthly and the digital edition weekly.
Learn moreGet 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
MOSAIC scholar explores enzymes
Organic chemist Edwin Alfonzo's scientific journey took an unexpected turn when he discovered the world of enzymes.
Honors for Wright, Chiu and Flanegan
Awards, promotions milestones and more. Find out what's going on in the lives of ASBMB members.
In memoriam: Michael Waterfield
He was a British biochemist and a pioneer in the cancer research field who opened a proteomics lab at University College London.
Bakers and mentors help a MOSAIC scholar change her life
Joanna-Lynn Borgogna studies the vaginal microbiome, the metabolome and the development of gynecological disorders in reproductive-aged women.
Swapping stethoscope for pipette to understand diabetic retinopathy
MOSAIC scholar Emma M. Lessieur Contreras is inspired by the work of her ophthalmologist father.
Honors for Lemon, Silva and Brownlee
Awards, promotions, milestones and more. Find out what's going on in the lives of ASBMB members.