Jeffrey L. Ram is Professor of Physiology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Director of the Belle Isle Aquarium Laboratory in Detroit, MI USA. After receiving a B.A. Magna cum Laude degree in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania (1967) and being a Thouron Scholar at Cambridge University (1967-1968), he earned a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Neurophysiology from the California Institute of Technology (1974). Following post-doctoral research at the University of California Santa Cruz, and a fellowship at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA USA, he joined the faculty in the Department of Physiology of Wayne State University in 1977. Ram is known for his studies of the endocrine, neural, and pharmacological control of reproduction, muscle, and digestive physiology in invertebrate model systems, especially Aplysia, his research on invasive mussels, and recent studies on aquatic biodiversity. Together with Dr. Mahadev Murthy (NIH) he developed symposia and publications on the use of model systems for the study of aging, an activity that he has continued as President of the International Society for Invertebrate Reproduction and Development (2014 – 2017). Ram’s collaborations on vertebrate systems have included biodiversity studies of the fecal and oral microbiome of animals and people. He has authored or co-authored over 150 publications in these areas and edited the proceedings of several symposia, including a 10 paper issue on model systems for the study of aging for the Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction and Development. The work of his laboratory has been recognized by numerous grants from NIH, NSF, EPA, and various foundations such as the American Heart Association and the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. Ram is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As head of an NSF project to promote the interest of public school students in science and science careers, Ram works closely with the Belle Isle Aquarium and the Detroit Public Schools Community District to increase the public understanding of how scientists work and the importance and place of science in protecting the environment.
P. Michael Conn is the Senior Vice President for Research and Associate Provost, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. He is The Robert C. Kimbrough, Professor of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology/Biochemistry. He was previously Director of Research Advocacy and Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cell Biology and Development and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University and Senior Scientist of the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). He served for twelve years as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director of the ONPRC. After receiving a B.S. degree and teaching certification from the University of Michigan (1971), a M.S. from North Carolina State University (1973), and a Ph.D. degree from Baylor College of Medicine (1976), Conn did a fellowship at the NIH, then joined the faculty in the Department of Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1982. In 1984, he became Professor and Head of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine, a position he held for eleven years. Conn is known for his research in the area of the cellular and molecular basis of action of gonadotropin releasing hormone action in the pituitary and therapeutic approaches that restore misfolded proteins to function. His work has led to drugs that have benefitted humans and animals. Most recently, he has identified a new class of drugs, pharmacoperones, which act by regulating the intracellular trafficking of receptors, enzymes and ion channels. He has authored or co-authored over 350 publications in this area and written or edited over 200 books, including texts in neurosciences, molecular biology and endocrinology. Conn has served as the editor of many professional journals and book series (Endocrinology, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Endocrine, Methods, Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science and Contemporary Endocrinology). Conn served on the National Board of Medical Examiners, including two years as chairman of the reproduction and endocrinology committee. The work of his laboratory has been recognized with a MERIT award from the NIH, the J.J. Abel Award of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the Weitzman, Oppenheimer and Ingbar Awards of the Endocrine Society, the National Science Medal of Mexico (the Miguel Aleman Prize) and the Stevenson Award of Canada. He is the recipient of the Oregon State Award for Discovery, the Media Award of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and was named a distinguished Alumnus of Baylor College of Medicine in 2012. Conn is a previous member of Council for the American Society for Cell Biology and the Endocrine Society and is a prior President of the Endocrine Society, during which time he founded the Hormone Foundation and worked with political leadership to heighten the public’s awareness of diabetes. Conn’s students and fellows have gone on to become leaders in industry and academia. He is an elected member of the Mexican Institute of Medicine and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is the co-author of The Animal Research War (2008) and many articles for the public and academic community on the value of animal research and the dangers posed by animal extremism. His op/eds have appeared in The Washington Post, The LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Des Moines Register, and elsewhere. Conn consults with organizations that are influenced by animal extremism and with universities and companies facing challenges from these groups.
