A UCF professor has become the first Floridian inducted to one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific organizations in the world, the National Academy of Science in Italy.
Henry Daniell, a professor in the department of Molecular and Microbiology who was named last week as the Pegasus Professor of 2004, was elected as a member of NAS last month, and will be presented with this award in Rome in April.
"I feel very proud to be nominated to the National Academy of Science, Italy, because it is older than any [scientific] concept that I have ever taught or done," Daniell said.
Although most countries have their own National Academy of Science, Italy's is the oldest science academy in the world, dating to 1782.
In the academy's 222-year history, only 16 of its 175 inductees have been Americans. Induction to the academy places Daniell at the same rank as some of the most celebrated figures in the history of science: Benjamin Franklin, inducted in 1786, Louis Pasteur, inducted in 1892, and Albert Einstein, inducted in 1925, are just a few.
Members of the academy are elected based on several criteria, such as inventions and publications.
Daniell's pioneering work in chloroplast genetic engineering technology is one of the highlights of his resume and a key achievement leading to his induction. His ideas and research in this technology have enabled the production of transgenic plants that are resistant to drought and insects. Through his research he has contributed to human medicine, for which he has engineered transgenic plants that produce pharmaceuticals to treat an array of diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and vaccines for anthrax, plague, cholera and other bioterrorism agents.
Daniell also has an outstanding publication record, having authored more than 100 publications on chloroplast genetic engineering, and has been cited by peers over 1,000 times in scientific journals. During the past five years he has published more than 40 articles in some of the top scientific journals, including Nature Biotechnology and Trends in Plant Science.
He has earned the title of UCF Millionaires Club Honoree for two consecutive years by securing about $10 million in research funds. In addition, he founded the first UCF-based biotech company, Chlorogen, Inc. Chlorogen has attracted millions of dollars in investment capital from several major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and is expected to experience rapid growth.
Daniell's selection as the Pegasus Professor of 2004 recognizes him with the highest honor bestowed upon a UCF faculty member. He expressed his excitement for earning this title, and with a laugh said, "I guess everything happens all at once."
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