Steven C. Beering Award

Lynne E. Maquat, PhD

University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York

• J. Lowell Orbison Endowed Chair and Professor, Departments of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Oncology, and Pediatrics
• Founding director, University of Rochester Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics
• Founding chair, University of Rochester Graduates Working in Science
• Founding principal investigator, NIH NIGMS T32 in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences
• Co-director, New York State Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics

About her research

Lynne Maquat studies how cells read and manage genetic information, and how mistakes in this process can lead to disease.

In 1981, she discovered an important quality-control system called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). This system helps cells find and destroy faulty genetic messages before they can produce harmful proteins. She later discovered another part of this process, called the exon-junction complex (EJC), which helps identify messages that need to be checked.

Maquat also discovered another quality-control system, called Staufen-mediated mRNA decay, which works differently from NMD. Her research showed how different types of RNA—molecules that help cells use genetic information—can influence which genetic messages are kept or destroyed.

She also discovered a new way that cells break down microRNAs, tiny molecules that help control which genes are turned on or off. This process plays an important role in helping cells grow and divide normally.

Today, one of her main research goals is developing new treatments for diseases caused by an overactive NMD system. These include Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and a common genetic cause of autism.

In addition to her scientific discoveries, Maquat is widely recognized for her leadership in encouraging and supporting women in science around the world. 

Awards

• William C. Rose Award, the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (2014)
• Canada Gairdner International Award (2015)
• International RNA Society Lifetime Achievement Award in Service (2010) and in Science (2017)
• FASEB Excellence in Science Award (2018)
• Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science (2017)
• Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences from Rockefeller University (2018)
• International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Medal (2019)
• Wolf Prize in Medicine from Isreal (2021)
• Warren Alpert Foundation Prize from Harvard Medical School (2021)
• Gruber Genetics Prize from the Gruber Foundation and Yale University (2023)
• Dr. Paul Janssen Prize in Biomedical Research from Johnson & Johnson (2024)
• Albany Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research from Albany Medical Center (2024)
• Steven C. Beering Award from Indiana University School of Medicine (2026)

Established in 1983, the Steven C. Beering Award honors its namesake's important contributions to the IU School of Medicine. Beering, MD, joined the IU School of Medicine faculty in 1969 as professor of medicine and assistant dean. He was named dean of the School of Medicine in 1974 — becoming the youngest person to serve in that post — and served as dean until 1983. While serving as dean, he also served as director of the IU Medical Center.

During his time at IU School of Medicine, he led efforts to establish the Indiana Statewide Medical Education System, creating community-based regional centers for medical education in Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Lafayette, Muncie, South Bend and Terre Haute. During his tenure, the number of endowed chairs at IU School of Medicine grew from three to 34.

Prior to joining IU School of Medicine, he served 12 years in the United States Air Force, where he was an adviser to the U.S. surgeon general in internal medicine and a medical consultant to NASA. He was a physician to the nation's earliest astronauts as well as to U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower.

After serving at IU School of Medicine, Beering became president of Purdue University, where he served from 1983 until his retirement in August 2000. After leaving Purdue, he served on and chaired the National Science Board, an organization that advised the president and U.S. Congress on national policy issues related to science, engineering research and engineering education. Beering was a four-time recipient of Indiana's Sagamore of the Wabash Award and was named a Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society in 2013.