Michael J. Welsh (biologist)
{{short description|American pulmonologist}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Michael J. Welsh
| image =
| honorific-suffix =
| birth_name = Michael James Welsh
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Marshalltown, Iowa{{cite journal |last1=Abboud |first1=François M. |title=Introduction of Gordon Wilson Medal recipient Dr. Michael Welsh |journal=Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association |date=2009 |volume=120 |pages=147–148 |pmid=19768172 |pmc=2744533}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| citizenship =
| nationality =
| fields = Pulmonology, physiology
| workplaces = University of California, San Francisco
University of Texas, Houston
University of Iowa
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
| education = University of Iowa (BSc, MD)
| alma_mater =
| known_for = Research of cystic fibrosis
| awards = Warren Alpert Foundation Prize (2018)
George M. Kober Medal (2020)
Shaw Prize in Life Science & Medicine (2022)
Wiley Prize (2023)
Switzer Prize (2023)
| spouse =
}}
Michael James Welsh is an American pulmonologist. He is the current Roy J. Carver Chair in Biomedical Research,{{cite web |title=Welsh Lab - Contact Us |url=https://medicine.uiowa.edu/pbi/labs/welsh/contact-us |publisher=Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa |access-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022150049/https://medicine.uiowa.edu/pbi/labs/welsh/contact-us |archive-date=October 22, 2022}} the Professor of Internal Medicine in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine at the Department of Internal Medicine, and the Director of Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa.{{cite web |title=Michael J. Welsh, MD |url=https://medicine.uiowa.edu/internalmedicine/profile/michael-welsh |publisher=Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa |access-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022145214/https://medicine.uiowa.edu/internalmedicine/profile/michael-welsh |archive-date=October 22, 2022}} He is also a professor at the Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, and Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. He received the 2022 Shaw Prize in Life science and Medicine, together with Paul A. Negulescu, for their work that uncovered the physiological defects in cystic fibrosis and developed effective medications.{{cite press release |title=Press Release |url=https://www.shawprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/life-science-and-medicine/2022/press-relesae |access-date=October 12, 2022 |publisher=Shaw Prize Foundation |date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012140007/https://www.shawprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/life-science-and-medicine/2022/press-relesae |archive-date=October 12, 2022}}
Early life and education
Welsh was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, and went to Loras College in Dubuque. He obtained his BSc from the University of Iowa, then his MD from College of Medicine of the same university (now the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine) in 1974. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, during which the attending physicians supervising him induced his interest in research.{{cite web |title=Autobiography of Michael J Welsh |url=https://www.shawprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/life-science-and-medicine/2022/autobiography-of-michael-j-welsh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022144815/https://www.shawprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/life-science-and-medicine/2022/autobiography-of-michael-j-welsh |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |access-date=October 23, 2022 |publisher=Shaw Prize Foundation}}
Career
After his residency, Welsh spent 2 years at the University of California, San Francisco and then University of Texas Medical School at Houston as a research fellow, returning to the University of Iowa in 1981 and becoming an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, eventually promoted to Professor of Internal Medicine and Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics.
Welsh was the President of the American Society for Clinical Investigation between 1996 and 1997,{{cite web |title=Michael J. Welsh, MD |url=https://the-asci.org/controllers/asci/AsciProfileController.php?pid=152450 |publisher=American Society for Clinical Investigation |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025143414/https://the-asci.org/controllers/asci/AsciProfileController.php?pid=152450 |archive-date=October 25, 2022}} and has been the President of the Association of American Physicians.{{cite web |title=Michael Welsh, MD |url=https://www.harringtondiscovery.org/about/scientific-advisory-board/michael-welsh-md |publisher=Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center |access-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023112852/http://www.harringtondiscovery.org/about/scientific-advisory-board/michael-welsh-md |archive-date=October 23, 2022}} Currently, Welsh is an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (since 1989){{cite web |title=Michael J. Welsh, MD |url=https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/michael-j-welsh |publisher=Howard Hughes Medical Institute |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025143100/https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/michael-j-welsh |archive-date=October 25, 2022}} and sits on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.
Research
Welsh's research centered on cystic fibrosis, specifically the CFTR protein, an ion channel that allows chloride ions to pass through. His studies helped answer questions about why defects in the protein emerge and how these defects affect the protein's function.{{cite web |title=DR. MICHAEL WELSH |url=https://www.sanfordlorrainecross.com/nominees/michael-welsh/ |publisher=Sanford Lorraine Cross Award |access-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029154045/https://www.sanfordlorrainecross.com/nominees/michael-welsh/ |archive-date=October 29, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Essay |url=https://www.shawprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/life-science-and-medicine/2022/essay |publisher=Shaw Prize Foundation |access-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028073714/https://www.shawprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/life-science-and-medicine/2022/essay |archive-date=October 28, 2022}} In 1989, Lap-Chee Tsui, Francis Collins, and their team discovered the gene that encodes the CFTR protein and found that changes in the protein caused cystic fibrosis.{{cite journal |first1=John R. |last1=Riordan |first2=Johanna M. |last2=Rommens |first3=Bat-Sheva |last3=Kerem |first4=Noa |last4=Alon |first5=Richard |last5=Rozmahel |first6=Zbyszko |last6=Grzelczak |first7=Julian |last7=Zielenski |first8=Si |last8=Lok |first9=Natasa |last9=Plavsic |first10=Jia-Ling |last10=Chou |first11=Mitchell L. |last11=Drumm |first12=Michael C. |last12=Iannuzzi |first13=Francis S. |last13=Collins |first14=Lap-Chee |last14=Tsui |authorlink13=Francis Collins |authorlink14=Lap-Chee Tsui |title=Identification of the cystic fibrosis gene: cloning and characterization of complementary DNA |journal=Science |date=1989 |volume=245 |issue=4922 |pages=1066–1073 |doi=10.1126/science.2570460 |pmid=2475911|s2cid=86352511 |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.2475911 |access-date=October 27, 2022}} Welsh's group discovered in 1991 that the CFTR protein is a chloride channel, meaning it allows chloride ions to pass across the cell membrane.{{cite journal |first1=Matthew P. |last1=Anderson |first2=Richard J. |last2=Gregory |first3=Simon |last3=Thompson |first4=David W. |last4=Souza |first5=Sucharita |last5=Paul |first6=Richard C. |last6=Mulligan |first7=Alan E. |last7=Smith |first8=Michael J. |last8=Welsh |title=Demonstration that CFTR is a chloride channel by alteration of its anion selectivity |journal=Science |date=1991 |volume=253 |issue=5016 |pages=202–205 |doi=10.1126/science.1712984 |pmid=1712984 |bibcode=1991Sci...253..202A |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1712984 |access-date=October 27, 2022}} The same year, his group reported how the activity of the CFTR protein could be regulated.{{cite journal |first1=Seng H. |last1=Cheng |first2=Devra P. |last2=Rich |first3=John |last3=Marshall |first4=Richard J. |last4=Gregory |first5=Michael J. |last5=Welsh |first6=Alan E. |last6=Smith |title=Phosphorylation of the R domain by cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulates the CFTR chloride channel |journal=Cell |date=1991 |volume=66 |issue=5 |pages=1027–1036 |doi=10.1016/0092-8674(91)90446-6 |pmid=1716180 |s2cid=25208449 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0092867491904466 |access-date=October 28, 2022}} He later categorized the four classes of CFTR mutations that are still in use today in an expanded format.{{cite journal |last1=Welsh |first1=Michael J. |last2=Smith |first2=Alan E. |title=Molecular mechanisms of CFTR chloride channel dysfunction in cystic fibrosis |journal=Cell |date=1993 |volume=73 |issue=7 |pages=1251–1254 |doi=10.1016/0092-8674(93)90353-r |pmid=7686820 |s2cid=36691109 |url=https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/0092-8674(93)90353-R.pdf |access-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029160716/https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/0092-8674%2893%2990353-R.pdf}} Crucially, Welsh and his group found that when the CFTR protein contains F508del mutation, the most common mutation in cystic fibrosis patients, it could be transported to the cell surface under low temperature but not at body temperature.{{cite journal |first1=Gerene M. |last1=Denning |first2=Matthew P. |last2=Anderson |first3=Jane F. |last3=Amara |first4=John |last4=Marshall |first5=Alan E. |last5=Smith |first6=Michael J. |last6=Welsh |title=Processing of mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator is temperature-sensitive |journal=Nature |date=1994 |volume=358 |issue=6389 |pages=761–764 |doi=10.1038/358761a0 |pmid=1380673 |s2cid=4365756 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/358761a0 |access-date=October 28, 2022}} His study also showed F508del-mutated CFTR protein can function properly if it reached cell surface,{{cite journal |first1=S. H. |last1=Cheng |first2=S. L. |last2=Fang |first3=J. |last3=Zabner |first4=J. |last4=Marshall |first5=S. |last5=Piraino |first6=S. C. |last6=Schiavi |first7=D. M. |last7=Jefferson |first8=M. J. |last8=Welsh |first9=A. E. |last9=Smith |title=Functional activation of the cystic fibrosis trafficking mutant delta F508-CFTR by overexpression |journal=American Journal of Physiology |date=1995 |volume=268 |issue=1 |pages=L615-624 |doi=10.1152/ajplung.1995.268.4.L615 |pmid=7733303 |url=https://journals.physiology.org/doi/epdf/10.1152/ajplung.1995.268.4.L615 |access-date=October 28, 2022}} paving the way for cystic fibrosis therapies. In recent years, Welsh has developed animal models of cystic fibrosis, most notably in pigs, allowing for the study of the disease in an in vivo setting.{{cite journal |first1=Christopher S. |last1=Rogers |first2=David A. |last2=Stoltz |first3=David K. |last3=Meyerholz |first4=Lynda S. |last4=Ostedgaard |first5=Tatiana |last5=Rokhlina |first6=Peter J. |last6=Taft |first7=Mark P. |last7=Rogan |first8=Alejandro A. |last8=Pezzulo |first9=Philip H. |last9=Karp |first10=Omar A. |last10=Itani |first11=Amanda C. |last11=Kabel |first12=Christine L. |last12=Wohlford-Lenane |first13=Greg J. |last13=Davis |first14=Robert A. |last14=Hanfland |first15=Tony L. |last15=Smith |first16=Melissa |last16=Samuel |first17=David |last17=Wax |first18=Clifton N. |last18=Murphy |first19=August |last19=Rieke |first20=Kristin |last20=Whitworth |first21=Aliye |last21=Uc |first22=Timothy D. |last22=Starner |first23=Kim A. |last23=Brogden |first24=Joel |last24=Shilyansky |first25=Paul B. |last25=McCray, Jr. |first26=Joseph |last26=Zabner |first27=Randall S. |last27=Prather |first28=Michael J. |last28=Welsh |title=Disruption of the CFTR gene produces a model of cystic fibrosis in newborn pigs |date=2008 |journal=Science |volume=321 |issue=5897 |pages=1837–1841 |doi=10.1126/science.1163600 |pmid=18818360 |pmc=2570747 |bibcode=2008Sci...321.1837R }}
Honors and awards
- 1994 - James Burns Amberson Lecture, American Thoracic Society{{cite web |title=Amberson Lecturers |url=https://conference.thoracic.org/about/conference-history/amberson-lecturer.php |publisher=American Thoracic Society |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031040350/https://conference.thoracic.org/about/conference-history/amberson-lecturer.php |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}
- 1997 - Member of the National Academy of Medicine{{cite web |title=Michael J. Welsh, M.D. |url=https://nam.edu/member/?member_id=eovj%2B3NHl%2FmHVHKQfHqmJw%3D%3D |publisher=National Academy of Medicine |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031034123/https://nam.edu/member/?member_id=eovj%2B3NHl%2FmHVHKQfHqmJw%3D%3D |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}
- 1998 - Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences{{cite web |title=Michael J. Welsh |url=https://www.amacad.org/person/michael-j-welsh |publisher=American Academy of Arts and Sciences |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031034254/https://www.amacad.org/person/michael-j-welsh |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}
- 2000 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences{{cite web |title=Michael J. Welsh |url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/3004989.html |publisher=National Academy of Sciences |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022150051/http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/3004989.html |archive-date=October 22, 2022}}
- 2009 - Gordon Wilson Medal, American Clinical and Climatological Association
- 2017 - Walter B. Cannon Award Lectureship, American Physiological Society{{cite news |title=APS 2017 Distinguished Lectureship Award Winners to Present Talks at Experimental Biology |url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/aps-2017-distinguished-lectureship-award-winners-to-present-talks-at-experimental-biology |publisher=American Physiological Society |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031040640/https://www.newswise.com/articles/aps-2017-distinguished-lectureship-award-winners-to-present-talks-at-experimental-biology |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |date=April 18, 2017}}
- 2017 - Steven C. Beering Award, Indiana University School of Medicine{{cite web |title=Steven C. Beering Award |url=https://faculty.medicine.iu.edu/advance-your-career/awards/steven-c-beering-award/ |publisher=Indiana University |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031040903/https://faculty.medicine.iu.edu/advance-your-career/awards/steven-c-beering-award/ |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}
- 2018 - Warren Alpert Foundation Prize{{cite web |title=Michael Welsh |url=https://warrenalpert.org/prize-recipients/michael-welsh |publisher=Warren Alpert Foundation Prize |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031034704/https://warrenalpert.org/prize-recipients/michael-welsh |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}
- 2020 - George M. Kober Medal{{cite news |title=Welsh receives Kober Medal |url=https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2021/04/15/welsh-receives-kober-medal/ |access-date=October 31, 2022 |publisher=Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa |date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031061347/https://internalmedicineiowa.org/2021/04/15/welsh-receives-kober-medal/ |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}{{cite web |title=George M. Kober Medal and Lectureship |url=https://aap-online.org/kober/ |publisher=Association of American Physicians |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031041119/https://aap-online.org/kober/ |archive-date=October 31, 2022}}
- 2022 - Shaw Prize in Life Science & Medicine{{cite web |title=The 2022 Prize in Life Science & Medicine |url=https://www.shawprize.org/laureates/life-science-medicine/2022 |publisher=Shaw Prize Foundation |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005032240/https://www.shawprize.org/laureates/life-science-medicine/2022 |archive-date=October 5, 2022}}
- 2023 - Wiley Prize[http://johnwiley2020news.q4web.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2023/-The-21st-Annual-Wiley-Prize-in-Biomedical-Sciences-Awarded-for-Novel-Cystic-Fibrosis-Treatment/default.aspx Wiley Prize 2023]
- 2023 - Switzer Prize{{Cite web |date=2022-08-11 |title=Medical School {{!}} Switzer Prize |url=https://medschool.ucla.edu/about/rankings-and-awards/the-switzer-prize |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=UCLA Medical School |language=en}}
References
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Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
Category:Howard Hughes Medical Investigators
Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine
Category:University of Iowa faculty