[ Special Feature ] Photograph of Prof Ray Wu, taken when the nine volumes of his book, /Recombination DNA/ (Methods in Enzymology series), were published and reserved and displayed at the front entrance of the US Library of Congress in 1993. Ray Wu, Pioneer of Rice Research: In Memoriam he Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA) deeply mourns the passing of Professor Ray J. Wu, a molecular biologist and geneticist of Cornell University, USA, on February 10, 2008. With his keen vision Tand deft handling, Prof Wu founded the China–United States Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Examination and Application (CUSBEA) Program in 1982, and thus laid the groundwork for enabling over 400 of the top Chinese students to receive graduate education in the US from 1982 to 1989. 26 ■ Volume 12 > Number 6 > 2008 www.asiabiotech.com [ Special Feature ] About Professor Ray Wu Before his unexpected death from heart surgery on February 10, 2008, Ray J. Wu was the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, International Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, and former Department Chair (1976–1978) of the Section of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology at Cornell University. In fact, Ray Wu was very much his father’s son: his father, Professor Hsien Wu, was trained in the US and developed the Folin–Wu method for blood analysis, before returning to China to establish the first Department of Biochemistry at the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing in 1924. Professor Ray Wu first came recruited, and brought over 400 of professorships in more than a dozen to the US in 1948. He received his the top five percentile of Chinese universities and research institutes in BS degree from the University of students to US universities for China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Alabama in 1950, and his doctoral graduate education, followed by Kong for his distinguished service degree in biochemistry from the postdoctoral training for their career in education and facilitation of University of Pennsylvania in 1955. He enhancement. This program has international scientific cooperation. was subsequently awarded a Damon produced over 100 faculty members Indeed, he was arguably the most Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship, in major universities as well as influential bioscientist pioneer working under Professor Efraim numerous COOs, CEOs, and CSOs in developing and consolidating Racker at the New York Public Health in many biotechnology companies. In very large numbers of US/Chinese Research Institute. In his continuous 1995, with the support of the Society cooperative agreements in biological pursuit of academic excellence, of Chinese Bioscientists in America sciences and education. Prof Wu became a Senior Visiting (SCBA), Ray Wu and Robert Yu of Investigator of the Biochemistry the Institute of Molecular Medicine Department at Stanford University; a and Genetics and the Institute National Science Foundation Senior of Neuroscience at the Medical Fellow of the MRC Laboratory at College of Georgia initiated the Cambridge University, UK; and China–United States Biochemistry a Visiting Associate Professor of Admission (CUSBA) Program. the Department of Biology and This program continues to provide Chemistry at the Massachusetts coordinative services to Chinese Institute of Technology. During his 1- students for their graduate admission year sabbatical leave from Cornell in to the departments of biochemistry, 1989, he assisted in the establishment biology, biophysics, and related fields. of the Institute of Molecular Biology In the last decade, these Chinese of Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, scientists, with colleagues from and served as the institute’s director. the Chinese Academy of Sciences, He was an Honorary Professor, and formed the Ray Wu Society to was later appointed as an Adjunct promote continuous advancement Professor, at Peking University, of the frontiers in life sciences; this China. Professor Wu was also an was expanded in 2003 to the Chinese editor and coeditor for nine volumes Biological Investigators Society of the Recombinant DNA book in (CBIS). the Methods in Enzymology series Professor Wu worked with many from 1979 to 1993. Chinese bioscientists supported by In 1982, Prof Wu successfully the Taiwanese government, and took founded the China–United States on a leadership role to establish the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Institute of Molecular Biology and the Examination and Application Institute of BioAgricultural Sciences (CUSBEA) Program, which was in at the Academia Sinica in Taipei. He operation until 1989. He interviewed, was conferred numerous honorary www.asiabiotech.com Volume 12 > Number 6 > 2008 ■ 27 [ Special Feature ] Professor Wu was also a pioneer death, he had been working on plants and rice can effectively in genetic engineering. He developed projects in rice biotechnology. Rice increase the productivity of both the first method for sequencing is an essential crop for food security, usable and marginal land to produce DNA and some of the fundamental poverty alleviation, and improved sufficient rice for the world’s hungry tools for DNA cloning. In 1970, livelihoods, especially in Asia where population. It has been estimated he developed the location-specific an estimated two billion people that these drought- and salt-tolerant primer extension method for obtain over 60% of their food energy plants have the potential of increasing determining the sequence of DNA. from rice. Even though 80% of the the yield of major cereal crop plants After several innovative modifications rice is grown globally by small-scale by 30% by 2025, and this also will be by other scientists to greatly speed farmers in low-income countries, very beneficial to consumers. up the process, the same strategy is rice production does provide jobs for Throughout his lifetime, Prof still being used four decades later. almost one billion people. Wu published over 300 original The utilization of this strategy has In 1996, Prof Wu published a research papers in international led to the DNA sequencing of the very innovative and unique method peer-reviewed journals with high- entire genomes of rice and human for the production of drought- and impact indexes in the areas of genetic and other organisms — a giant step salt-tolerant rice and crop plants, engineering, medicine, plant biology, in genomics. Knowing the genome which can eventually be used to and plant biotechnology. He held sequence of these organisms will help benefit farmers in countries such as (or jointly held) five patents covering us to understand different genetic India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other a wide range of genetic engineering traits, and will eventually benefit Southeast Asian regions. Under his methods. In addition, he received agriculture and improve human leadership, his laboratory successfully numerous awards and honors in health. bioengineered and modulated genes recognition of his work; these include Following a prominent career in that are required for the synthesis a Fellow of the American Academy for genetic engineering and recombinant of the naturally occurring sugar the Advancement of Science (AAAS) DNA research, Prof Wu focused trehalose. These genes are specifically in 2003, and an elected Fellow in the his research on one of the most “turned on” when a plant such as Chinese Academy of Engineering. In important problems facing the rice is under drought or salt stress. 2002, he was awarded the prestigious world: food production and hunger. By permitting the use of otherwise Frank Annunzio Award in Science In 1988, he led one of the first unusable land with high salinity and and Technology — a US$50 000 groups to succeed in producing frequent drought in these countries, award presented by the Christopher transgenic rice plants. Up until his the drought- and salt-tolerant crop Columbus Fellowship Foundation — 28 ■ Volume 12 > Number 6 > 2008 www.asiabiotech.com [ Special Feature ] Ray Wu’s Memorial Celebration and Service A memorial for Prof Ray Wu will be held on June 15, 2008, from 2 PM to 4 PM at the following venue: Kendal at Ithaca 2230 N. Triphammer Road Ithaca, NY 14850 USA Tel: +1 800 2536325 or +1 607 2665300 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.kai.kendal.org Ray Wu’s Memorial Symposia Chinese Biology Investigators Society The Chinese Biological Investigators for his work in genetic engineering, national Center for Genetic Society (CBIS), the Department especially for discovering the first Engineering and Biotechnology of Molecular Biology and Genetics method of sequencing DNA, and in (ICGEB) (1982–1995); and of Cornell University, and Cornell the production of new cereal crops. 6. Member of the University University will sponsor a memorial Professor Wu also provided Faculty Senate (2003–2008) symposium in memory of Prof significant professional service to and the CALS Senate Ray Wu at Cornell University on numerous academic, national, and Committee (2003–2008) at October 3 – 4, 2008. international committees. Some Cornell University. examples include the following: Without a doubt, Prof Wu Peking University 1. Scientific Advisor to the China was an outstanding and highly There will be another memorial National Center for Biotech- accomplished researcher who symposium in honor of Prof Wu on nology Development; successfully mentored large numbers July 10, 2008, at Peking University. 2. Chairman of the Scientific of productive graduate students and The symposium will be focused Advisory Committee of the postdoctoral