UCSF and the Future of Science: A Conversation with Keith Yamamoto
Keith Yamamoto, UCSF's executive vice dean for research in the School of Medicine, began his UCSF career in 1972. Among scientists, he is probably best known for his discoveries about the nature and function of steroid receptors. And while it is now widely understood that these receptors, located inside a cell, are responsible for influencing the action of genes in almost every major organ system in the body, how that happens was a complete mystery when Yamamoto's research began.
It is much less of a mystery now, in this new age of genome sequencing. But when it comes to finding the right steps in the complicated dance of cell receptors and genes, knowing the moves does not always mean you have mastered the performance. What is true of an individual lab is true of science in general. That explains why choreographing experiments to help us understand everything from aging to asthma can produce a confusing mix of adagio and allegro, more generally known in the scientific world as stops and starts.
Yamamoto has seen a lot of stops and starts in his many years at UCSF. And in the video interview that follows, he shares his thoughts, opinions and dreams about science and why the race to the future has already started.
The State of Science at UCSF
Inflammation, cancer, the brain, stem cells, metabolism, developmental biology — the whole world of biomedical science at UCSF is finding new connections and a new universality. Next on the list? How about a melding of training programs for PhDs and MDs?
Communicating Science
From stem cells to cancer therapies, the public is frequently asked to make many complex decisions about the implications of science — this at a time when newspaper and related coverage is declining. Should scientists themselves help fill the communication gap? Or should the public be responsible? And is biomedical science a tough sell?
Translational Science
A mere two to three decades ago, basic scientists celebrated serendipitous discovery and shunned "targeted" science. Yet with the advent of translational science, basic scientists are rushing to be leaders in the field. What happened? And was it more a change of attitude or a change in technology that paved the way?
Is Science Too Slow?
If modern science is so targeted, why is it so slow? And can engineering save the day?
If You Could Start Over
As disciplines enfold one another, Yamamoto envisions a scientific rebirth as a specialist generalist.
Photo/Robert Foothorap
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