Ardem Patapoutian - A Life of Scientific Discovery
THE PRIZE:
Ardem Patapoutian received his Nobel Prize medal December 9, 2021 in Irvine, CA.
Ardem Patapoutian is awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the first Armenian to do so! He shared the award with Dr. David Julius who, together and separately, discovered how our bodies feel the warmth of the sun or the hug of a loved one. Dr. Patapoutian is a professor of Neuro Science at Scripps Institute in California.
The two scientists have also received the Rosenstiel Award for Distinguished Work in Basic Medical Research in 2019 and Kavli Prize in Neuroscience where they created new ways for the development of safe and targeted pain killers that may have lower addictive properties than opioids! Their findings can have an enormous effect on how scientists understand the body fighting disease or managing chronic pain.
In 2022 Prof Patapoutian visited Armenia where he was elected an honorary member of the National Academy of Sciences and was named Honorary Doctor of the Yerevan State Medical University. Ardem gifted a replica of his Nobel medal to the History Museum of Armenia and Hay Post issued a postage stamp dedicated to him.
EARLY LIFE:
Ardem Patapoutian was born in Beirut Lebanon in 1967 the youngest of three children in an Armenian family. Civil War started in Lebanon when he was 7 years old. Life became very difficult and by the time he was 17 he knew he could no longer live in such a tense atmosphere. Beirut was divided into two groups. One day he crossed the “green Line” which divided the Muslims from the Christians to visit a friend. When he tried to return to his side he was arrested and held for many hours even though Armenians were considered neutral.
EDUCATION :
Ardem immigrated to the U.S. in 1986 and settled in California where he received his bachelor degree in cell development biology. He was headed for a career as a medical doctor and needed to work in a lab to get into Medical School. He called 10 professors and said he would work for free in their labs. They all said no. The 11th professor took him on and put him to work helping two graduate students. That’s when he fell in love with the whole culture and doing science. As time went on he “found my tribe in people who do bio medical research”. (2-23 interview on Synaptic radio program)
Ardem gave up going to Medical School and forged ahead to gain his PhD in developmental biology at the California Institute of Technology in 1996. Four years later he became a lecturer at the Scripps Research Institute where he now heads the Scripps Research Endowed Chair in Neurobiology – the biology of the nervous system.
LEGACY:
““It’s a legacy that I’m sure future generations will appreciate as we continue to discover the secrets of the universe, including our bodies through science.” AGBU Insider December 2021”
Dr. Ardem Patapoutian is known for his commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists, many of whom have gone on to establish successful careers of their own. Ardem’s life and work exemplifies the spirit of scientific inquiry. Through his pioneering research in mechanobiology, he has broadened our understanding of the sensory world, leaving permanent marks on the fields of neuroscience and biology.
Reflecting on the studies he has been able to conduct in his career so far, Dr. Patapoutian is always looking to the future.