Peter C Agre
Professor
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Johns Hopkins University
United States of America
Biography
A graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine [MD 1974], Agre attained clinical training in internal medicine and hematology and basic science training in cellular and molecular biology. Agre's research has focused upon molecular aspects of human diseases, including hemolytic anemias, blood group antigens, and malaria. Agre received the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovery of the aquaporin water channels. Referred to as the "plumbing system of cells," aquaporins facilitate the movement of water across cell membranes [rapid osmosis]. Aquaporins are responsible for generation all biological fluids - cerebrospinal fluid, aqueous humor, tears, sweat, saliva, and concentration of urine. Aquaporins are also involved in plant biology and infectious diseases. Malaria - Agre has served as Director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. He oversees scientific training and research efforts of 20 laboratories in Baltimore and field studies in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Science Diplomacy - Agre has led multiple visits of American scientists to North Korea, Cuba, Myanmar/Burma, and Iran. In recognition of his accomplishments as an interdisciplinary researcher and excellence in teaching the next generation of scholars, Dr. Agre was named a Bloomberg distinguished Professor in 2014.
Research Interest
Aquaporin water channel, Malaria, Science diplomacy
Publications
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King LS, Choi M , Fernandez PC, Cartron J-P., and Agre P. 2001. Defective urinary concen-trating ability due to a complete deficiency of Aquaporin-1. N Engl J Med 345: 175-179.
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Preston GM, Carroll T, Guggino WB, and Agre P. 1992. Appearance of water channels in Xenopus oocytes expressing red cell CHIP28 protein. Science 256: 385-387.
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Agre P, Casella JF, Zinkham WH, McMillan C, and Bennett V. 1985. Partial deficiency of erythrocyte spectrin in hereditary spherocytosis. Nature 314: 380-383.
