Professor Bird Elected to National Academy of Sciences

RSRT Trustee, Adrian P. Bird, was elected today to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences for his distinguished and continuing scientific achievements.

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, non-profit society of esteemed scholars. Established by an act of Congress signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, it is charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Scientists are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. As the role of science has expanded in the United States, the National Academy has grown to include the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council.

Prof. Bird’s mark on Rett research is indelible. In the early 1990’s he discovered the MeCP2 protein which, when mutated, causes Rett Syndrome. In 2001 he developed an animal model of the syndrome that is currently used in hundreds of labs around the world. In 2007 he published a paper in Science that established the principle of symptom reversibility for Rett, even in late stage disease. This finding is the foundation of all current drug development efforts. Today he is focused on understanding the molecular function of MeCP2 as well as developing treatments.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Bird for this great honor.