H. Robert Horvitz

H. Robert Horvitz

Birth date	May 8, 1947
Birth place	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Nationality	American
Known for	Apoptosis, C. elegans
Awards	Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2002)

H. Robert Horvitz (born May 8, 1947) is an American biologist and geneticist known for his pioneering research in the field of apoptosis and his work with the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a member of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Early Life and Education

Horvitz was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Harvard University, where he received his B.A. in Mathematics in 1970. He then pursued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning his Ph.D. in Biology in 1974 under the supervision of James D. Watson.

Research

Horvitz is renowned for his research on the genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death in C. elegans. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of apoptosis, a process crucial for development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms.

In 2002, Horvitz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Sydney Brenner and John E. Sulston for their discoveries concerning "genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death".

Awards and Honors

• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2002)
• National Medal of Science
• Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
• Gairdner Foundation International Award

See Also

• Apoptosis
• Caenorhabditis elegans
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

References

• Nobel Prize Biography
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Profile

External Links

• MIT Biology Department Profile