Dr. Edward A. Dennis is a distinguished leader in biochemical research and holds the prestigious Chancellor's I Distinguished Professorship at the University of California San Diego with appointments spanning Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology departments. He earned his BA in Chemistry from Yale University in 1963 and completed his PhD in Chemistry at Harvard University in 1967 under Frank Westheimer, focusing on phosphate ester hydrolysis mechanisms. Recruited to UCSD in 1970 as an Assistant Professor in Chemistry, he has built an exceptional career that includes two separate terms as Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and service as Chair of the Faculty Academic Senate. His leadership extends beyond departmental roles, having served on the Board of Overseers and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1983-84 during which he was a Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Dennis has pioneered groundbreaking research in lipid signaling with particular emphasis on phospholipases and eicosanoid biosynthesis, fundamentally transforming our understanding of cellular communication mechanisms in inflammation and disease. His development of the general model for water-soluble enzymes acting at membrane phospholipid interfaces has provided critical insights into how phospholipase A2 recognizes and processes specific lipid substrates within cellular membranes. As Director of the LIPID MAPS Consortium from 2003 to 2014, he spearheaded the creation of comprehensive lipid classification systems and quantitative methods that established lipidomics as a major field of study with applications ranging from metabolic syndrome to cancer research. With over 420 peer-reviewed publications and 22 issued or applied for patents, his research has significantly advanced our understanding of lipid-protein interactions and their roles in human health and disease.
Dr. Dennis has profoundly shaped the field through his service as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Lipid Research from 2003 to 2018, where he guided the publication of seminal works that advanced lipid science globally. His leadership in establishing the UCSD LIPID MAPS Lipidomics Core continues to provide essential resources for researchers studying the role of lipids in various diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and neurodegenerative disorders. Recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the ASBMB Avanti Award in Lipid Enzymology, the European Lipid Science Award, and the Bert and Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical Science, Dr. Dennis remains actively engaged in advancing lipid research methodologies. His current work on directed non-targeted mass spectrometry and chemical networking for discovery of eicosanoids continues to push the boundaries of lipid discovery, ensuring his enduring influence on the next generation of lipid researchers and the broader biomedical community.
