THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON

 

MEDICAL SCHOOL

Department of Pharmacology Post Office Box 20708
Telephone: (713) 792-5550 Houston, Texas 77025

January 17, 1979 f
t
(3
5 9
Dr. Eugene Garfield of
INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION
325 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Dear Dr. Garfield:
It is a privilege to nominate Dr. G. Alan Robison for the LL
National Academy of Sciences James Murray Luck Award in Scientific

Writing. Dr. Robison is Professor and Chairman in the Department of
Pharmacology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

His scientific informational exchange contributions in the field of
cyclic nucleotide research are immense and unparalleled. I believe

it is fair to say that more than any other he has been the principal
person responsible for the dissemination of information in this area,
and without his efforts the field probably would not have developed

as rapidly. Some of these accomplishments include: (1) publication
of the first inclusive review article on the role of cyclic AMP in
cell function (Annual Reviews of Biochemistry, 1968); (2) principal
author of the first treatise entitled, "Cyclic AMP," published by
Academic Press in 1970; (3) organization of the first meeting devoted
to the actions of cyclic AMP (New York Academy of Sciences, 1970);

(4) organization of the first international meeting on cyclic nucleo-
tide research (Milan, Italy, 1971); (5) development of the first
continual monograph series in the field (Advances in Cyclic Nucleotide
Research, Raven Press); and (6) the first journal devoted to the topic
(Journal of Cyclic Nucleotide Research, Raven Press). He has authored
44 review articles (see enclosed list) summarizing mechanisms of
cyclic nucleotide action in cellular functions. Not only is Professor
Robison a gifted writer, but he possesses an outstanding ability to
present scientific facts in broad perspective without losing sight of
the pitfalls and limitations of available data. The articles are al-
ways excellent for their clarity and timeliness. Several scientists

 
Dr. Eugene Garfield Page Two January 17, 1979

have told me that Professor Robison's review of a specific area not
only shed light on important questions in the field, but helped them
develop ideas for their own research.

On a personal note, Dr. Robison's writings have had an impor-
tant influence on my own scientific career. Trained as a neuropharma~
cologist, I became interested in the regulation of postsynaptic events
at, the cellular aid muleculat levei. his early reviews on the coup-
ling of adrenergic receptors to the cyclic AMP system led me to conduct
postdoctoral research in this area.

Over these past years, I am continually impressed by Dr. Robi-
son's scientific writing ability and his fervent commitment to the field
of scientific information exchange. At a time when so many review arti-
cles often represent little more than a compilation of pertinent ref-
erence or a means to gather colleagues at meetings, I feel the contri-
butions made by Dr. Robison, exemplary.

Sincerely yours,

Samuel J. Strada, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

sJs/mrh

Encl.