Elizabeth H. Blackburn

Elizabeth H. Blackburn is the Morris Herzstein Endowed Professor in Biology & Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco, affiliated with the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. She is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Salk Institute.

Education:

• B.Sc. (University of Melbourne, 1970)
• M.Sc. (University of Melbourne, 1972)
• Ph.D. (University of Cambridge, 1975)
• Postdoctoral work at Yale (1975-1977)

Research Interests: Blackburn discovered telomeres and telomerase, pioneering their role in chromosomal stability, aging, and cancer. Her work explores how telomerase counteracts telomere erosion, non-genetic stress effects on telomere length, and leveraging hyperactive telomerase in cancer cells for therapy. Her studies intersect molecular biology, genomics, and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Eli Lilly Research Award (1988)
• National Academy of Science Award (1990)
• AACR-G.H.A. Clowes Memorial Award (2000)
• Albert Lasker Award (2006)
• Awarded 13+ major honors including the Heineken Prize (2004) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Award (2003)
• Elected to 8+ academies (National Academy of Sciences, Royal Society, etc.)
• Named in Time's 100 Influential (2007)

Academic Service: Served as Department Chair at UCSF (1993-1999), previously faculty at UC Berkeley (1978-1990). Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to translate telomerase biology into clinical applications.