N.C. Universities, Biotech Sector Honor UNC Nobel Prize Winner Oliver Smithies

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – North Carolina’s university and biotech industry leaders honored one of their own Monday night, announcing that the North Carolina Biotech Center’s “Faculty Recruitment Grant Program” will be named in honor of Nobel Prize winner Oliver Smithies.

Smithies, a pioneer in genetics research and a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, shared the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He came to UNC in 1987 through the grant program. So far, he is the only Nobel winner among an extensive list of researchers who fill campus posts across the state. But who knows what the future holds?

For the time being, backers of the grant program designed to bring top-drawer researchers to North Carolina can revel in the fact that Smithies chose to relocate south from the University of Wisconsin. And they surprised Smithies with the naming honor at a reception at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

The Skinny couldn’t attend the event, but had correspondents in place to provide photos and details. (By the way, we've republished four video segments about Dr. Smithies in today's LTW Video section – our own small way of adding to the Smithies salute.)

“If central casting created a Nobel Laureate, Dr. Smithies is it,” said Erskine Bowles, the UNC system president. “There is no higher prize than the Nobel Prize. His receipt of this award does so much for our university.”

Added UNC Chancellor James Moeser: “Millions of people worldwide have longer, better lives because of Dr. Oliver Smithies’ work.”

Recalling his decision to move to North Carolina, Smithies said he was attracted by a “super environment" for partnerships, competition that “fostered collaboration” and an “abundance” of test tube experiments he could capitalize on for work in animal genetics.

An avid pilot who operates his own aircraft even at age 82, Smithies also recalled with a smile that flying in and out of Chapel Hill is a bit easier that Chicago’s O’Hare.

Before being told about the award, Smithies was asked what advice he offers students.

“Enjoy what you are doing,” he said. “If you don’t enjoy it, then change it. Secondly, work hard. If you expect to succeed as a scientist, plan on putting in five days a week as a bare minimum. And third, keep good notes. You may have got something right two years ago, but it’s lost if you cannot remember it and haven’t recorded it.”

He also said it’s OK to be selfish about satisfying your own desires.

“People have been talking about me as unselfish, but I don’t think that’s true,” he explained. “I’m doing what I love to do. I cannot bear to do anything but science.”

So far, the N.C. program has helped bring 52 researchers to North Carolina at a total cost of $9.9 million. Fortunately for mankind, Smithies’ selfishness has paid incredible dividends. And more will come from his colleagues, many of whom still call North Carolina home.

Smithies shared the Nobel with Mario Capeechi of the University of Utah and Martin J. Evans of Cardiff University in Wales.