Ronald Wek, PhD, the Showalter Professor of Biochemistry at the Indiana University School of Medicine, has been named a 2026 fellow by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
According to the society, the prestigious fellowship recognizes "members who have a history of exceptional and sustained service to the society, as well as a distinguished record of professional accomplishments that advance the molecular life sciences." It also celebrates accomplishments in "basic and translational research, application and commercialization, education, outreach, increasing belonging and opportunity in science, mentorship, leadership and public service."
"This award is a great honor, as the society recognizes outstanding biomedical research contributions and sustained service to the science community," said Wek, who is also a member of the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. "I have been fortunate to have many outstanding trainees and colleagues who have contributed to our research in cell stress responses, with important implications in the progression and treatment of cancers, diabetes and related metabolic diseases."
Wek is a biochemist and molecular biologist with a PhD from the University of California, Irvine and postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health.
His lab studies how cells cope with stress, including nutrient deprivation and disruptions in protein folding. This research is important for the development of new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders, skin disorders, infectious diseases, cancers and neuropathologies.
Wek is an active member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He joined the society’s Journal of Biological Chemistry’s editorial board in 2013, and he became an associate editor in 2016. He has also served on the ASBMB Public Affairs Advisory Committee and is currently a member of the ASBMB Today Advisory Board.
"This is an exciting time for the biomedical sciences," Wek said. "We are making great strides toward understanding critical processes in health and disease, with an eye toward more effective therapies."
The society will honor Wek and 15 other fellows at its annual meeting on March 7-10 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
