Jay Tischfield

. [ [http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/tischlab/index.html The Tischfield’s Lab homepage] ]

He is also is the scientific director of the Rutgers University Cell & DNA repository, the largest university-based repository in the world. [ [http://rucdr.org/index.html The Rutgers University Cell & DNA repository] ] Tischfield has four U.S patents to his name.

Education and career

Professor Tischfield obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology in 1967 at the City University of New York, Brooklyn College. He finished his master’s degree in biology at Yale University in 1969, where he received his PhD in 1973.

At Yale, Tischfield worked on mapping human genes to chromosomes. He used mice-man somatic cell hybridization to find out which genes are on which chromosomes. He identified the gene for indophenol oxidase in mammals. [ [http://www.jem.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/2/317?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&author1=tischfield&title=indophenol&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&tdate=8/31/1980&resourcetype=HWCIT Y. H. Tan, J. Tischfield , and F. H. Ruddle: The linkage of genes for the human interferon-induced antiviral protein and indophenol oxidase-B traits to chromosome G-21, "The Journal of Experimental Medicine", Vol 137, 317-330] ] Later, this gene was identified by researchers from Duke University as the gene coding for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=147450 History of Superoxide dismutase gene discovery in Pubmed] ] which is involved in Down syndrome and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Professor Tischfield’s research at Rutgers University focuses on the genetic basis of complex diseases that are caused by a number of genes, and often triggered by environmental causes. Tischfield’s lab investigates [autism] , alcohol addiction and dihydroxyadenine urolithiasis, a kidney disease, which is characterized by severe kidney stones. For this latter disease, the laboratory has developed a knockout mouse model for APRT deficiency. [ [http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/tischlab/research.html Jay Tischfield’s lab] ]

Another research area is focused on loss of heterozygosity, a side effect of DNA-repair. Via this mechanism, tumor suppressor genes can be deactivated, leading to cancer.

Tischfield’s group uses population studies to find genes that are involved in diseases, using samples from the Rutgers University Cell & DNA Repository. In the past, the Repository contributed samples to a research project concerning the genetic background of progeria. [ [http://progeriaresearch.org/cell_tissue_bank.html The Progeria Research Foundation’s Cell and Tissue Bank] ] This study revealed that progeria patients have a defect in the Lamin A gene on chromosome 1. [ [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v423/n6937/pdf/nature01629.pdf M. Eriksson et al. (2003). "Recurrent de novo point mutations in lamin A cause Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome". Nature 423: 293–298] ] The discovery lead to a clinical drug trial with a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, that started in May 2007.

Personal

Tischfield is married and has three sons, all involved in biological science research. The oldest two are also studying genetics. [ [http://www.childrenshospital.org/cfapps/research/data_admin/Site339/mainpageS339P6sublevel33.html. Max Tischfield’s research page] ] Jay Tischfield is also a big fan of Donald Duck. [ [http://blog.nj.com/iamnj/2006/12/mark_goldstein.html A most unusual Collector] ]

During his time as an undergraduate student, Tischfield was interested in marine biology, but studied yeast genetics instead. During that time, he took on scuba diving, and is an experienced diver today.

Career timeline

* 1972-1973 Postdoctoral Fellow (NIH), Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, University of California San Francisco
* 1972-1974 Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University
* 1974-1978: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University
* 1978-1987 Associate Professor of Anatomy, Cell and Molecular Biology, Pediatrics, and Graduate Studies, Medical College of Georgia
* 1987-1998 Professor and Director, Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
* 1989-1998: Director, Cell and DNA Repositories, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine
* 1989-2008 Adjunct (Volunteer) Professor, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine
* Since 1998 Professor II and Chair, Department of Genetics, Rutgers University
* Since 1999 Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Chair in Genetics, Rutgers University

Awards

* Election as American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2007) [ [http://php.aaas.org/about/aaas_fellows/list.php List of AAAS Fellows] ]
* Duncan and Nancy MacMillan Endowed Chair in Genetics (1999-)
* Elliot Ossermann Award for Distinguished Service in Support of Cancer Research, Israel Cancer Research Fund (1994)
* Distinguished Alumnus Award and Medal, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (1990)

References