Prof. John Moran receives Keck Foundation award

ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan Prof. John V. Moran was selected as one of this year’s W.M. Keck Foundation Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research.

Throughout its history, the W. M. Keck Foundation has maintained “a strong commitment to supporting distinguished biomedical research initiatives at premier medical and research universities and independent research institutions through the Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research Program. This year’s group of five outstanding young investigators includes the U-M’s Dr. John V. Moran, Ph.D., assistant professor of human genetics and internal medicine. The Foundations’ Scientific Advisory Committee selected Dr. Moran on the basis of his potential to make significant contributions to the advancement of medical research and his capacity for future academic leadership in the field of biomedicine.

“Over the next five years, a grant of up to $1 million will be available to the University from the W.M. Keck Foundation, in support of Dr. Moran’s research on the role of L1s or LINES (Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements) in human disease and in the evolution of the human genome.”

“The research we will pursue with the Keck Award will focus on learning more about how, why, and when a class of ‘jumping genes’ in human DNA move to new locations,” said Moran. “These genes, also known as L1s or LINES, are the most abundant autonomous transposable elements in the human genome and I am particularly interested in how their movement affects genome stability and contributes to human mutation.” He notes that fundamental knowledge of L1s will enable scientists to gain a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie human diseases.

Established in 1954 by the late William Myron Keck, founder of the Superior Oil Company, the W.M. Keck Foundation is one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations with its grant-making focused primarily in the areas of medical research, science, and engineering. “In order to advance ground-breaking work, the Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research Program was developed to promote the early career development of a select group of the country’s brightest young biomedical scientists. Through its Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research Program, the Foundation’s goal is to provide institutions and their young scientists with an opportunity to investigate promising and unproven new ideas. Each year 30 outstanding institutions are invited to nominate one faculty member who is in their second to fourth year of their first tenure track position for this prestigious award.”

John V. MoranW. M. Keck Foundation