Biophysical Society Newsletter - November 2015

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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

2015

NOVEMBER

interpretation that explained the biochemical cycle responsible for converting the energy of ATP hydrolysis into mechanical energy, what came to be called the Lymn-Taylor model,” he explains. The papers are in most basic textbooks on muscle contraction and became the basis for models of action by other molecular motors. After completing his PhD studies, Lymn won a one-year British-American Heart Association Fellowship that enabled him to work with Hugh Huxley at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom. “With Hugh, I started to work on physiology and structure, expanding my skills in electron microscopy and learning fine details of X-ray crystallography,” Lymn explains. “It was a great challenge because to that point I had worked primarily in biochemistry.” His time at MRC was a highlight of his scientific career—out of only 400 people in the lab, six were Nobel Laureates. “Whenever I was sitting at a table having coffee or eating lunch, I typically had a very intensive semi- nar in some area of scientific research that I had known only slightly the day before,” he recalls. His fellowship was extended to three years before he was recruited to work at the NIH in the Laboratory of Physical Biology with Richard Podolsky . He worked on improving prototypic electronic detectors of X-ray diffraction pattern changes that provided better time resolution of molecular events than film. “The biggest challenge in my career was realizing that the research that I wished to pursue required a tremendous amount of coordination and fund- raising,” he says. “This meant an almost complete shift to becoming a research director. I realized that I could have a greater impact by directing a program of muscle research.” In order to work toward his new goal, he enrolled in the Grants Associate Program at NIH that provided a year of training courses and specialized assignments to various programs throughout the government. He then moved into a position as Health Scientist Administrator working with the research programs in the Division of Arthritis, Bone, and Skin Diseases. He continued to work with many active researchers to learn about their research

questions and the strengths and shortcomings of various experimental techniques, in hopes of promoting cooperation and coordination among scientists. “My duties included research training and career development for the different subjects, and thus I interacted with biological scientists and clinical specialists including rheumatologists, der- matologists, and orthopedists. It was fascinating to learn about different cultures that supported the biomedical research endeavor,” Lymn says. Most of his time at NIH was spent as a Pro- gram Director of Muscle Biology, responsible for organizing and expanding a program of research grants and contracts in the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to support research on skeletal muscle. “The pro- gram was formally established in 1983 and we convened a multi-disciplinary advisory group,” he explains. “We developed a list of opportunities and needs, including emerging genetic analysis and engineering techniques. It amazes me that the number of known skeletal muscle proteins has more than doubled since that time.” At the start of the program, it supported 75 grants in biophysics, biochemistry, and skeletal muscle development. “Twenty years later, with a budget of more than one hundred million dollars, the program supported 400 research and develop- ment grants, including expanded emphasis in the areas of exercise physiology, genetic and metabolic diseases of muscle, and treatments for people with muscle diseases,” Lymn says. Lymn is now formally retired, but continues to work to promote research through The Lymn Foundation. The Foundation grants support to muscle-related conferences, which then provide awards to outstanding new investigators. Lymn also works with patient advocacy groups, such as the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, providing scientific and strategic planning advice. Lymn hopes that his lasting contribution will be one of encouragement and support for research. He says, “My advice to young people is that they should ask lots of questions and try to determine which ones will be fun and rewarding to answer. They should learn skills to then convince others of the excitement and importance of providing support to answer those questions.”

Richard and Merry Lymn.

Profilee-at-a-Glance Institution

Retired from NIH; Lymn Foundation

Area of Research Molecular motors and skeletal muscle