Stanley Cohen was an eminent American biochemist renowned for his transformative discoveries in cellular growth mechanisms. Born on November 17, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, he completed his undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College with dual majors in chemistry and zoology in 1943, followed by a master's degree in zoology from Oberlin College in 1945. He earned his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Michigan in 1948, where his doctoral research focused on nitrogen metabolism in earthworms, demonstrating their liver-like metabolic capabilities. After postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado and Washington University in St. Louis, he joined Vanderbilt University in 1959 where he served as Professor of Biochemistry for 41 years until his retirement in 2000, while maintaining his prestigious American Cancer Society Research Professorship throughout his career.
Cohen's most significant scientific contribution was the co-discovery, isolation, and characterization of nerve growth factor (NGF) alongside Rita Levi-Montalcini, for which they shared the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. While working with mouse tumor extracts, he also identified and purified epidermal growth factor (EGF), a substance that dramatically accelerated developmental processes such as eye opening and tooth eruption in newborn mice. His meticulous biochemical characterization of EGF and its receptor laid the foundation for understanding cellular growth mechanisms at the molecular level, revealing how these factors influence diverse developmental events throughout the body. This work fundamentally transformed medical science by providing crucial insights into wound healing processes and establishing the conceptual framework for understanding how growth factor signaling malfunctions contribute to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disorders.
The profound impact of Cohen's discoveries became increasingly evident as subsequent research revealed that mutations in the DNA of EGF receptors cause numerous types of cancer, directly leading to the development of 87 targeted cancer therapies by pharmaceutical companies. His work exemplified the critical importance of basic scientific research for advancing clinical treatments, demonstrating how fundamental discoveries about cellular mechanisms can ultimately yield life-saving medical applications. Throughout his career, Cohen received numerous prestigious honors including the Lasker Award, election to the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Medal of Science presented by President Ronald Reagan, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential biochemists of the twentieth century. Though he retired from active research in 2000, his pioneering work continues to guide contemporary research in cell biology and oncology, with growth factor signaling remaining a vibrant field of investigation that builds upon his foundational discoveries.
