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| Biological Sciences professor Jill Adler-Moore has been named Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. |
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| Adler-Moore has consulted with biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies since 1984. Her research interests have focused on medical mycology and immunology. |
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has awarded Biological Sciences professor Jill Adler-Moore the distinction of AAAS Fellow. Adler-Moore, who joined Cal Poly Pomona in 1974, was elected as a fellow for her innovative development of liposomal formulations for the delivery of antifungal drugs.
“The selection as an AAAS Fellow was a complete surprise to me,” says Adler-Moore, coordinator of the university's Biotechnology Program. “I am honored and feel that truthfully there were many very good scientists who worked with me over these many years, helping to make these accomplishments possible. No one can do these kinds of things without collaborating with a range of talented scientific colleagues and students. The honor goes to all of these people as well.”
AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science. The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. Election as a fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.
This year 376 members have been awarded this honor by AAAS because of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
Adler-Moore has consulted with biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies since 1984. Her research interests have focused on medical mycology and immunology. For the past 17 years, she has published articles and been awarded patents in the area of liposomal drug delivery. Her research was supported through grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Science Foundation and the California State University System, as well as through research contracts from various pharmaceutical companies including NeXstar Pharmaceuticals Inc., Gilead Sciences Inc., Fujisawa Healthcare Inc. and Molecular Express Inc.
In 1984, Adler-Moore was studying amphotericin B, a drug that effectively killed fungi — a concern to any patient whose immune system is compromised because of disease or surgery — but was also toxic.
“I had the idea that if we could design a vehicle, a fat body, to put the amphotericin B into, it would still retain its ability to kill fungus, but it wouldn't be toxic for the patient,” she says.
During a sabbatical, Adler-Moore took the project to Vestar Inc., a small biotechnology company in Pasadena that specialized in making fat bodies, or liposomes. The final formulation, an antifungal agent called AmBisome, is administered intravenously. It was approved by the FDA in 1997 and Gilead Sciences now manufactures and sells the drug worldwide.
In addition to her research, Adler-Moore serves on several regional and statewide boards concerned with the development of the biotechnology industry and education throughout California.
She received a doctorate in medical microbiology from Cornell University.
Adler-Moore, along with the other new fellows, will be recognized for contributions to science at the Fellows Forum during the 2006 AAAS Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 18. She will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin.