Francis Johnson Symposium – 80 Years Young

In October 2010, the department, along with the chemistry department, honored Dr. Francis Johnson with a day-long symposium to commemorate his 80th birthday. Dr. Johnson is the founding vice-chairman of the department of pharmacological sciences and was recruited from the Dow Eastern Research Laboratory to SBU in 1973 by Dr. Arthur Grollman, the founding chair. Among his many diverse accomplishments, highlights include:

• One of the most quoted reviews in organic chemistry, on two rules that describe the conformational behavior of unsaturated organic molecules
• First use of carba-nucleoside mimics to study nucleoside excision repair and to explore a biological problem using a model system
• Co-founding (with Dr. R.C. Gupta) of Chem-Master Int. Inc., a company devoted to custom synthesis for academic researchers and the pharmaceutical industry
• Ongoing development by Chem-Master Int. of treatments for inflammation, colon cancer, brain cancer, periodontitis, rosecea, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Dr. Johnson’s current research involves studies on the aristolochic acids, which are plant-derived potent cumulative nephrotoxins that cause an upper urothelial cancer. In addition to his ongoing teaching, he has mentored over 35 Ph.D. graduate students, several of whom returned to speak in his honor. “Dr. Johnson continues to inspire his students through his excitement about science and his genuine care and concern for all the people who have circulated through his laboratory. I remain lifelong friends with my Johnson lab mates,” says David Walt, Ph.D. ’79. Dr. Johnson is grateful to his students and colleagues and especially his wife Marta, for their continuing support.

[clockwise from left] Faculty Dr.Scharer, Dr. Frohman, Dr. Johnson; alumnus Dr. David Walt;

Dr. Johnson with symposium speakers. For more photos please search this department webpage.