A Nobel Tradition
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MBL Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage MBL Biological Discovery in Woods Hole PAID Plymouth, MA Hole Biological Discovery in Woods Permit # 55 MBL 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 • A NNUAL R EPORT 2008 EPORT A Nobel Tradition ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Founded in 1888 as the Marine Biological Laboratory About the cover: MBL Distinguished Scientist Osamu Shimomura (left) receives the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry medal from Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm, on December 10, 2008. Shimomura was awarded the Prize for his discovery of green fluorescent protein, GFP. (Photographer: Erhan Guner. Credit: Fredrik Sandberg/Scanpix/SIPA Press) The Marine Biological Laboratory does not discriminate in employment or in access to any of its The MBL Annual Report is published by the activities or programs or take any retaliatory action on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual Marine Biological Laboratory. Although the orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, participation in a discrimination-related complaint, greatest possible care has been taken in the physical or mental disability, military status or genetic predisposition. In addition, the MBL is preparation of this record, the MBL recognizes committed to the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment, as well as other forms of the possibility of omissions or inaccuracies. If unlawful harassment, in the workplace. Through training programs and disseminated information, any are noted, please accept our apology and MBL strives to educate its employees, students, faculty, and visitors on these important issues. advise us of any corrections to be made. Office of Communications MBL 7 MBL Street Woods Hole, MA 02543 www.mbl.edu (P. Wilmot) (P. contents 2 letter from the chairman 3 report of the director & ceo 5 a nobel tradition 6 the birth of experimental genetics 8 if these walls could talk 10 toward a peaceful environment 12 in a flash 14 research 39 education 64 mblwhoi library 67 financials 70 gifts 90 governance & administration 2 letter from the chairman of the board letter from the chairman of the board Dear Friends, I am pleased to share with you the 2008 Annual Report of the Marine Biological Laboratory. You’ll find that this was another exciting and productive year for the MBL, in spite of the economic decline that began having an impact on all of us over the past year. The most thrilling event of 2008 had to be the announcement in October that MBL Distinguished Scientist Osamu Shimomura had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of green fluorescent protein. It was a stunning day in Woods Hole, complete with a press conference and an international media frenzy, which the staff handled beautifully. Gary Borisy and I were honored to be able to join Dr. and Mrs. Shimomura at the award ceremony in Stockholm later in the year. The momentum continued in November when Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick came to the MBL to join our announcement that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute had awarded the MBL an unprecedented $15 million to help renovate Loeb Laboratory. The Governor himself came bearing good news: that the Board of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center would be voting the next day to release $10 million in support of that project, the result of a funding authorization in the recently signed Massachusetts Life Sciences legislation. I know the Board joins me in expressing our deep gratitude to the Governor, Senate President Therese Murray, the Cape delegation, and many others for their visionary leadership and efforts on behalf of the MBL. Thanks to the efforts of staff and volunteers and the far-sighted generosity of our donors, fundraising was at a record high in 2008. More than $30.8 million was raised to support a variety of important initiatives at the MBL. This is a remarkable achievement and speaks to the confidence that individual donors, foundations, corporations, and the community at large have in the mission of the laboratory. While the MBL has not been immune to the economic decline, the institution is weathering the storm reasonably well, thanks to strong leadership, successful fundraising, and careful budget management and oversight. With your continued support, I am confident the MBL will come through the economic crisis stronger than ever before, and even better able to fulfill its mission as a leader in biological research and education. In closing, I wish to express my thanks to Richard DeWolfe, Mark Fishman, George Logan, and Robert Prendergast, whose terms on the Board of Trustees ended in 2008. And I welcome new members Robert Ament, Patrick Gage, Matthew Mallow, and Patricia Robertson to the Board. As always, I am grateful for the commitment that all Board members make to the MBL. We are a stronger institution thanks to your wisdom and guidance. Best wishes, John W. Rowe, M.D. report of the director and ceo 3 report of the director and ceo My second year at the MBL has been dedicated to achieving excellence, demonstrating uniqueness, and strengthening stewardship, and I am pleased to report significant momentum in each of these areas in 2008. Excellence This year’s crowning moment was undeniably the award of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to MBL Distinguished Scientist Osamu Shimomura, adding an exciting chapter to the MBL’s longstanding Nobel tradition. Dr. Shimomura is the 53rd Nobel laureate to have an MBL affiliation, either as a resident researcher, visiting researcher, faculty member, course director, or course alumnus. You can read more about Dr. Shimomura and other notable MBL Nobelists in the pages that follow. In addition to Dr. Shimomura’s historic accomplishment, a number of other MBL scientists and faculty were recognized for excellence in 2008. Ecosystems Center scientists John Hobbie and Bruce Peterson received achievement awards from the American Society for Limnology and Oceanography, the leading professional organization for aquatic science researchers. John was also named a 2008 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He shared this distinction with four MBL alumni and ten MBL course faculty, including Tim Mitchison, former co-director of the Physiology course, and Mike Dickinson, present instructor and former co-director of the Neural Systems & Behavior course. Molecular Biology of Aging course co-director Gary Ruvkun received a Gairdner International Award, which recognizes the world’s leading medical research scientists. He also was elected to The National Academy of Sciences in 2008. These numerous awards—and the many others not mentioned here—underscore the MBL’s leadership role in discovery research MBL’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jack Rowe (left) and Director and CEO and education programs. Gary Borisy (right), with Dr. Shimomura and his wife, Akemi, at the December 10 Nobel Prize awards ceremony. (courtesy of G. Borisy) Uniqueness The MBL’s unique ability to move biology forward helped make 2008 our most successful fundraising year in MBL history. With the support of the MBL board and community, we attracted new and returning donors to raise a record $30.8 million. Significant support came from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, which awarded us $15 million and $10 million respectively toward transforming Loeb Laboratory, the centerpiece of our educational program, into a singular training ground for tomorrow’s scientists. The design phase of the Loeb renovation project began last fall, with preliminary construction beginning in March 2009. The expected completion date is June 2010. 4 report of the director and ceo (B. Liles) In other highlights, our intensive discovery courses continued to chart new territory, energized by gifted faculty and students who come to the MBL to do original, cutting-edge research and learn from each other in a setting unlike any other. To expand this reach, the MBL introduced two new courses in 2008: Gene Regulatory Networks for Development and Frontiers in Stem Cells and Regeneration. With donor support, we also began building capacity where needed by attracting talented new scientific staff and establishing innovative programs. Two areas that progressed well are the MBL’s newly established Cellular Dynamics Program and the new Micro-Eco initiative, which explores the important interface between microbes and the environment. Two new Micro-Eco scientists were appointed, who are actively soliciting grants, publishing papers, and initiating collaborations that link the Ecosystems Center with the Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution. The Cellular Dynamics Program has launched a comprehensive search for two new scientists that has identified several promising candidates. Stewardship While the MBL works to grow its programs, we are also mindful of our financial status. Like everyone, the MBL was affected by the economic decline and I want to assure our stakeholders that the MBL’s leadership is committed to making good use of the resources entrusted to us and to assuring the MBL’s long-term financial health. Under the guidance of the MBL’s Board of Trustees and the Finance Investment Committee, we have instituted additional checks and balances, including regular budget reviews and refinements, the careful oversight of all expenditures, and the prudent management of programs that rely on endowments. These measures are helping keep the MBL strong in the face of economic uncertainty. In fact, as we enter into Summer 2009, MBL courses are filled, conference revenues are strong, and visiting research is thriving. In this report, you will see many examples of excellence, uniqueness, and stewardship at the MBL during 2008. It has been a privilege leading the laboratory during such a remarkable year and I thank the MBL’s board, donors, and staff for the crucial role they play in our continued success. —Gary G. Borisy a nobel tradition 5 A Nobel Tradition NOBEL LAUREATES AFFILATED WITH THE MBL 1920 August Krogh he MBL and the Nobel Foundation were created the chemical transmission of the nerve impulse .