Wylie Vale
American endocrinologist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wylie Walker Vale Jr. (July 3, 1941 – January 3, 2012) was an American endocrinologist who helped identify hormones controlling basic bodily functions.[4][5]
Wylie W. Vale Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 3, 1941 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Died | January 3, 2012 (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine |
| Known for | discovery of key neuroendocrine hormones[1] |
| Awards | Fred Conrad Koch Award [2] Hans Selye award[3] |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Endocrinology |
| Institutions | Salk Institute |
| Doctoral advisor | Roger Guillemin |
Early life and education
Vale was born in Houston, Texas, on July 3, 1941. He completed a B.A. degree in biology at Rice University and obtained a Ph.D. in physiology and biochemistry from Baylor College of Medicine. He commenced employment at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, in 1970.[6]
Career
In collaboration with his advisor and mentor Roger Guillemin, Vale contributed to the discovery, isolation and identification of thyrotropin releasing hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the 1970s;[7][8] work that led to the Nobel Prize for Guillemin.[9]
At the Salk Institute, Vale led efforts in identifying the group of hormones involved in human growth, reproduction and temperature.[10] His group discovered, isolated and identified corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF/CRH) in 1981 and growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF) in 1982.[9]
Vale also founded two biotechnology companies, Neurocrine Biosciences and Acceleron Pharma.[9]
Vale was head of both the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology and the Helen McLoraine Chair in Molecular Neurobiology at the Salk Institute.[6] He died in 2012.[6]