Bruce N. Ames, the world-renowned pioneer in the fields of biochemistry and nutritional science, is Professor in the Graduate School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Research Scientist at Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Professor Ames’s work has concerned the study and therapeutic manipulation of metabolic dysfunction for restoring and enhancing human health. His research has focused on identifying important mutagens that damage human DNA, the defenses that protect us from them, and the consequences of DNA damage for cancer and aging.
Professor Ames received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the California Institute of Technology, and he is the recipient of the Eli Lilly Award of the American Chemical Society (1964), Arthur Flemming Award (1966), Lewis Rosenstiel Award (1976), FASEB/3M Award for Research in Life Sciences (1976), E.R.D.A. Distinguished Associate Award (1976), Environmental Mutagen Society Award (1977), California Technology Distinguished Alumni Award (1977), Simon Shubitz Cancer Prize (1978), Felix Wankel Research Award (1978), John Scott Medal (1979), Bolton L. Corson Medal (1980), New Brunswick Lectureship Award (1980), Wadsworth Award (1981), Charles S. Mott Prize (1983), Gairdner Foundation Award (1983), Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1985), Spencer Award (1986), Roger J. Williams Award in Preventive Nutrition (1989), Gold Medal from the American Institute of Chemists (1991), Glenn Foundation Award (1992), Röntgen Prize of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (1993), Lovelace Award for Excellence in Environ. Health Research (1995), Frontiers of Science Award (1995), Messel Medal from the British Society of Chemical Industry 1996), Society of Toxicology Public Communications Award (1996), Achievement in Excellence Award from the Center for Excellence in Education (1996), Honda Prize (1996), Japan Prize (1997), Kehoe Award from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (1997), Medal of the City of Paris (1998), National Medal of Science (1998), American Society for Microbiology Lifetime Achievement Award (2001), Linus Pauling Institute Prize for Health Research (2001), and Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal from the Genetics Society of America (2004).
Professor Ames has served on the National Cancer Institute board of directors, and he is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has served on its Commission on Life Sciences. In addition, he is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Japan Cancer Association, and Academy of Toxicological Sciences. Professor Ames has published more than 500 scientific articles.
Professor Ames participated in the Independent Institute event States of Fear: Science or Politics? featuring Michael Crichton and a panel of other distinguished scientists. It is now available on DVD.
