Biography
Bernard Agranoff, M.D. was a distinguished member of the Department of Psychiatry and the Mental Health Research Institute (now named the Michigan Neuroscience Institute).
Dr. Agranoff received his B.S. degree from the University of Michigan in 1946 and his M.D. degree from Wayne State University in 1950. In 1960, he joined the University of Michigan faculty as a Research Scientist. He was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry in 1961 and promoted to Professor in 1965 and Senior Research Scientist in 1997.
In 1983, Dr. Agranoff was named Professor of Biological Chemistry in the Department of Psychiatry. From 1991-2001, he held the title of Ralph Waldo Gerard Professor of Neurosciences. Dr. Agranoff was Director of the Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI) from 1985-1995 and Director of the Neuroscience Laboratory from 1983-2002. As MHRI Director, he significantly strengthened the Neuroscience focus of the Institute while also emphasizing translational research and the interface with Biological Psychiatry. Dr. Agranoffs's interest in neuroimaging in animals and humans and fundamental neurochemical research formed an important new focus. It led to the recruitment of new MHRI faculty members who remain key members of the Institute today. Dr. Agranoff retired from active faculty status in 2003.
Dr. Agranoff was the recipient of several prestigious honors at U-M, including the Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award (1984), Distinguished Faculty Lectureship in Biomedical Research (1986), and Henry Russel Lectureship (1988). He was a member of the National Academy of Medicine, served as Fogarty Scholar-in-Residence at the National Institutes of Health, and was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Areas of Interest
Biosynthesis of phospholipids, identification of metabolic intermediates including CDP-diacylglycerol and acyldihydroxyacetonephosphate, role of inositol phopahates in signal transduction. Biochemical correlates of neuroplasticity. Role of protein synthesis in behavioral memory formation, biochemical correlates of nerve regeneration in teleost visual system.. Application of biochemical probes to positron emission imaging.
Honors & Awards
President, American Society for Neurochemistry 1973-1975
Chairman International Society for Neurochemistry 1989-1991
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 1968 (Life Fellow Emeritus)
Fellow, American Psychological Society
Society for Neuroscience Council, 1976-1980
Member, Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Distinguished Service Citation, Wayne State University Medical School, 1967
Annual Grass Foundation Lecturer, Society for Neuroscience: Baltimore, MD Chapter, 1976; Shreveport, LA Chapter, 1979; Greater Hartford, CN Chapter, 1979; Indianapolis, IN Chapter, 1983; Central Missouri Chapter, 1987
Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, University of Michigan, 1984
Distinguished Faculty Lectureship in Biomedical Research, University of Michigan, 1986
Distinguished Lecturer, Baylor College of Medicine Program in Neuroscience, 1986
Henry Russel Lecturer, University of Michigan, 1988
NIH Fogarty Scholar-in-Residence Award, 1988
Institute of Medicine 1991
Michigan Scientist of the Year Award, 1992
Boots Distinguished Neuroscientist Lecturer, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport, LA, 1992
Wayne State Distinguished Alumnus Award, 1993
Festschrift issue, Neurochemical Research, 1994
Symposium at Independence Hall in Honor of Dr. Agranoff, American Society of Neurochemistry Philadelphia, March, 1996
Symposium in Honor of Dr. Agranoff, University of Michigan, May, 1997
Faculty Outstanding Service Recognition Award, Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, 1999
Medical Center Alumni Society Distnguished Achievement Award, University of Michigan, 2000
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2002
Annual Agranoff Lectureship in Neuroscience, initiated 2004
Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education, University of Michigan 2011
Published Articles or Reviews
For biochemical/lipid research, see Reflection: Agranoff, BW 2009. Turtles all the way: reflections on myo-inositol. J Biol Chem. 284, 21121-21126.
For neuroscience research, see The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography, L. Squire, editor, vol. 6 Oxford University Press 2006 pp1-30
For a complete list of this person’s PubMed publications, click HERE