Developmental Biology at UCLA School of Medicine, United States
Dr. Edward M. De Robertis, born on June 6, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, is a globally esteemed developmental biologist and molecular chemist. A U.S. citizen, he currently holds the Norman Sprague Jr. Chair in Biological Chemistry at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. His scientific legacy spans molecular embryology, gene regulation, and cell signaling in vertebrate development. A pioneer in Evo-Devo, his collaborations with Nobel laureate Sir John Gurdon established fundamental insights into nuclear reprogramming and gene expression. With over five decades of transformative research, Dr. De Robertis has contributed immensely to the understanding of early development and evolutionary conservation of gene pathways. His global influence extends through leadership in societies, prestigious advisory boards, and international scientific diplomacy. An acclaimed educator and researcher, he continues to inspire the scientific community through mentoring, publishing, and international engagement.
Pofessional Profiles
Scopus
ORCID
Google Scholar
🎓 Education
Dr. Edward M. De Robertis embarked on his academic journey in Uruguay, earning his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Uruguay in 1971, where he was awarded the Gold Medal as the top graduate. Following this, he pursued a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Instituto Leloir, Faculty of Sciences, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, under the mentorship of Nobel laureate Luis F. Leloir. His doctoral thesis investigated the regulation of bacterial growth by cyclic AMP in E. coli, laying a biochemical foundation that would inform his future studies in developmental biology. His postdoctoral training at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, under Sir John Gurdon, further shaped his molecular approach to embryology. This multidisciplinary academic path rooted in both medicine and molecular biology has underpinned his outstanding contributions to Evo-Devo, gene regulation, and cell fate determination in vertebrate systems.
🧪 Experience
Dr. De Robertis’s extensive experience spans institutions and continents. Following his Ph.D., he became a postdoctoral fellow under Sir John Gurdon at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Royal Society and Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund. From 1978–1980, he served as a Staff Scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. He was appointed Professor of Cell Biology at the Biocenter, University of Basel, Switzerland, from 1980–1985. Since 1985, he has held a professorship at UCLA, where he also served as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1994–2019). Beyond academia, he has played pivotal roles in international developmental biology, organizing major symposia, chairing committees, and serving as president of the International Society for Developmental Biology (2002–2006). His leadership includes advisory roles across the NIH, Wellcome Trust, and Pontifical Academy of Sciences, shaping developmental research policies worldwide.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Dr. De Robertis has earned numerous prestigious awards, reflecting his global scientific impact. His early academic excellence was recognized with the Gold Medal at the University of Uruguay (1971). He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the European Molecular Biology Organization. His honors include the NIH MERIT Award (1997), the Ross Harrison Prize in Developmental Biology (2009), and the Alexander Kowalevsky Medal (2020). He holds multiple honorary doctorates, including from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris) and Universidad de la República (Uruguay). The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Developmental Biology (2021) recognizes his lifelong commitment to science. His honorary memberships in Latin American and European scientific societies highlight his contributions to international scientific collaboration and education.
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Edward M. De Robertis’s research is centered on developmental biology, particularly embryonic patterning, gene regulation, and cell signaling pathways such as BMP and Wnt. He has been instrumental in elucidating the function of homeobox genes in vertebrate development, especially during the formation of the embryonic body axis. His studies on the Spemann organizer and the molecular mechanisms behind dorsal–ventral patterning have significantly advanced our understanding of how organisms develop from a single fertilized egg. He introduced the idea of morphogen gradients, demonstrating how antagonists like Chordin regulate signaling pathways during gastrulation. Dr. De Robertis’s lab continues to explore the evolutionary conservation of developmental pathways (Evo-Devo), particularly comparing vertebrates and invertebrates. His work combines molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary approaches, shaping modern embryology and influencing translational research in regenerative medicine and cancer biology.
🛠️ Research Skills
Dr. De Robertis brings a powerful blend of research, teaching, and scientific diplomacy to the field of developmental biology. His skills include molecular embryology, gene expression analysis, embryonic patterning techniques, and developmental genetics. Technically, he is adept in microinjection, RNA in situ hybridization, and live imaging of gene regulatory networks in model organisms such as Xenopus and zebrafish. He excels in communicating complex biological processes through impactful writing, lectures, and mentoring. His organizational and leadership skills are evident through his roles in scientific societies, conference organization, and committee leadership. He is also highly experienced in peer review, serving on numerous editorial boards and advisory panels. A seasoned international collaborator, he is skilled in cross-cultural scientific communication and fostering global research networks. His ability to integrate biochemical, genetic, and evolutionary perspectives has made him a mentor and thought leader across generations of scientists.
Publications Top Notes
1️⃣ Discursive Psychology
👥 D. Edwards, J. Potter
🏢 SAGE Publications Ltd, London
📅 1992
🔢 Cited by: 6062
2️⃣ Common Knowledge: The Development of Understanding in the Classroom
👥 D. Edwards, N. Mercer
📅 1987
🔢 Cited by: 3821
3️⃣ Discourse and Cognition
👤 D. Edwards
🏢 Sage
📅 1996
🔢 Cited by: 3743
4️⃣ Ideological Dilemmas: A Social Psychology of Everyday Thinking
👥 M. Billig, S. Condor, D. Edwards, M. Gane, D. Middleton, A. Radley
🏢 Sage Publications, Inc
📅 1988
🔢 Cited by: 3545
5️⃣ Conversational Remembering: A Social Psychological Approach
👥 D. Middleton, D. Edwards
📙 In: Collective Remembering
📅 1990
🔢 Cited by: 1889
6️⃣ Discourse Analysis Means Doing Analysis: A Critique of Six Analytic Shortcomings
👥 C. Antaki, M. Billig, D. Edwards, J. Potter
🏫 Loughborough University
📅 2003
🔢 Cited by: 1157
7️⃣ El Conocimiento Compartido: El Desarollo de la Comprensión en el Aula
👥 D. Edwards, N. Mercer
🏢 Paidós
📅 1988
🔢 Cited by: 1139
8️⃣ Emotion Discourse
👤 D. Edwards
📓 Culture & Psychology 5(3), pp. 271–291
📅 1999
🔢 Cited by: 852
9️⃣ Death and Furniture
👥 D. Edwards, M. Ashmore, J. Potter
📘 History of the Human Sciences 8(2)
📅 1995
🔢 Cited by: 804
🔟 Extreme Case Formulations: Softeners, Investment, and Doing Nonliteral
👤 D. Edwards
📘 Research on Language and Social Interaction 33(4), pp. 347–373
📅 2000
🔢 Cited by: 738
1️⃣1️⃣ Discursive Psychology (Chapter)
👥 D. Edwards, J. Potter
📕 In: How to Analyse Talk in Institutional Settings: A Casebook of Methods, pp. 12–24
📅 2001
🔢 Cited by: 731
1️⃣2️⃣ Categories Are for Talking: On the Cognitive and Discursive Bases of Categorization
👤 D. Edwards
📘 Theory & Psychology 1(4), pp. 515–542
📅 1991
🔢 Cited by: 640
1️⃣3️⃣ Discourse: Noun, Verb or Social Practice?
👥 J. Potter, M. Wetherell, R. Gill, D. Edwards
📘 Philosophical Psychology 3(2–3), pp. 205–217
📅 1990
🔢 Cited by: 586
1️⃣4️⃣ Language and Causation: A Discursive Action Model of Description and Attribution
👥 D. Edwards, J. Potter
📘 Psychological Review 100(1), pp. 23
📅 1993
🔢 Cited by: 579
✅ Conclusion
Dr. Edward M. De Robertis exemplifies the ideals of the Best Researcher Award—excellence in scientific discovery, transformative impact on global scientific communities, and sustained mentorship and service. His body of work has shaped entire generations of developmental biologists, and his continued commitment to international collaboration and scientific ethics solidifies his place as one of the most distinguished scientists in the field. He is highly suitable and deserving of this prestigious recognition.