In Memoriam

Vernon M. Ingram

Discovered Genetic Mutation for Sickle Cell Anemia

On August 17, 2006, long-time friend and grant recipient of the Hereditary Disease Foundation,Vernon M. Ingram died in Boston at the age of 82. Vernon had attended the HDF Biennial Symposium in Cambridge, MA the previous weekend. His recent research focused on neuroscience, including Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

A molecular biologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,Vernon was best known for his discovery, in the early 1950s, that a single genetic mutation caused the blood disease sickle cell anemia. We know today that many diseases such as Huntington’s disease, hemophilia, and cystic fibrosis, are similarly known to result from alterations in a single gene.

Vernon’s legendary curiosity and enthusiasm will be missed!