The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) is a

learned society A learned society ( ; also scholarly, intellectual, or academic society) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and sciences. Membership may be open to al ...

that was founded on December 26, 1906, at a meeting organized by

John Jacob Abel John Jacob Abel (19 May 1857 – 26 May 1938) was an American biochemist and pharmacologist. He established the pharmacology department at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1893, and then became America's first full-time professor o ...

(

Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

). The roots of the society were in the

American Physiological Society The American Physiological Society is a non-profit professional society for physiologists. It has nearly 10,000 members, most of whom hold doctoral degrees in medicine, physiology, or other health professions. Its mission is to support research ...

, which had been formed some 20 years earlier. ASBMB is the US member of the

International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) is an international non-governmental organisation concerned with biochemistry and molecular biology. Formed in 1955 as the International Union of Biochemistry (IUB), the union ...

. The ASBMB was originally called the American Society of Biological Chemists, before obtaining its current name in 1987. The society is based in

Rockville, Maryland Rockville is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, and is part of the Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census tabulated Rockville's population at 67,117, making it the fourth ...

. ASBMB's mission is to advance the science of

biochemistry Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology, a ...

and

molecular biology Molecular biology is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecule, molecular basis of biological activity in and between Cell (biology), cells, including biomolecule, biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactio ...

through publication of

scientific Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

and educational journals, the organization of scientific meetings, advocacy for funding of basic research and education, support of science education at all levels, and by promoting the diversity of individuals entering the scientific workforce. The organization currently has over 12,000 members.

Publications

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology publishes three research journals and a monthly magazine covering society news and activity updates. ASBMB journals are

peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work ( peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...

and cover research in the fields of

microbiology Microbiology () is the branches of science, scientific study of microorganisms, those being of unicellular organism, unicellular (single-celled), multicellular organism, multicellular (consisting of complex cells), or non-cellular life, acellula ...

, molecular genetics,

RNA Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of proteins (messenger RNA). RNA and deoxyrib ...

-related research,

proteomics Proteomics is the large-scale study of proteins. Proteins are vital macromolecules of all living organisms, with many functions such as the formation of structural fibers of muscle tissue, enzymatic digestion of food, or synthesis and replicatio ...

genomics Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of molecular biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes as well as its hierarchical, ...

, transcription, peptides,

cell signaling In biology, cell signaling (cell signalling in British English) is the Biological process, process by which a Cell (biology), cell interacts with itself, other cells, and the environment. Cell signaling is a fundamental property of all Cell (biol ...

, lipidomics, and

systems biology Systems biology is the computational modeling, computational and mathematical analysis and modeling of complex biological systems. It is a biology-based interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on complex interactions within biological system ...

. All articles are published online as "Papers in Press" upon acceptance. As of January 2021, all three ASBMB journals are fully open access. * The ''

Journal of Biological Chemistry The ''Journal of Biological Chemistry'' (''JBC'') is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1905., jbc.org Since 1925, it is published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It covers research i ...

'' publishes research in any area of biochemistry or molecular biology in one online-only issue per week. * '' Molecular & Cellular Proteomics'' is a monthly online only publication. Articles appearing in MCP "...describe the structural and functional properties of proteins and their expression, particularly with respect to the developmental time courses of the organism of which they are a part." The journal also publishes other content such as "HUPO views" (reports from the

Human Proteome Organization The Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) is an international consortium of national proteomics research associations, government researchers, academic institutions, and industry partners. The organization was launched in February 2001, and it promotes ...

), proceedings from HUPO meetings, and the proceedings of the International Symposium On Mass Spectrometry In The Life Sciences. * The ''

Journal of Lipid Research The ''Journal of Lipid Research'' is a monthly peer-reviewed open access scientific journal that was established in 1959. Since 2000, it has been published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It covers research on lipids ...

'' covers "...the science of

lipid Lipids are a broad group of organic compounds which include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include storing ...

s in health and disease. The Journal emphasizes lipid function and the biochemical and genetic regulation of lipid

metabolism Metabolism (, from ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cellular processes; the co ...

. In addition, JLR publishes manuscripts on patient-oriented and

epidemiological Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and Risk factor (epidemiology), determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent dise ...

research relating to altered lipid metabolism, including modification of dietary lipids." * ''ASBMB Today'' is the society's monthly news magazine. It contains extensive coverage of awards, meetings, research highlights, job placement advertising and human interest articles. All ASBMB members receive a complimentary subscription to ''ASBMB Today''. The online version of the magazine features daily publishing.

Meetings

ASBMB hosts and sponsors numerous meetings each year. The annual meeting is held each April in conjunction with the Experimental Biology meeting. Additionally, themed special symposia are organized throughout the year. The society also produces webinars throughout the year focused on topics related to scientific research, professional development and education.

Awards

The society offers twenty-five different awards, grants, and scholarships.

Annual Awards

* ASBMB Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education * ASBMB Leadership Awards * ASBMB– Merck Award * ASBMB Young Investigator Award * Avanti Award in Lipids * Bert and Natalie Vallee Award in Biomedical Science * DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences * Earl and

Thressa Stadtman Thressa Campbell Stadtman (February 12, 1920 – December 11, 2016) was an American biochemist, notable for her discovery of selenocysteine, and her research on selenoproteins and bioenergetics. In addition she made significant advances in amino a ...

Distinguished Scientist Award * Earl and

Young Scholar Award *

Herbert Tabor Herbert Tabor (November 28, 1918 – August 20, 2020) was an American biochemist and physician-scientist who specialized in the function of polyamines and their role in human health and disease. Tabor was a principal investigator at the National ...

Research Award * Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry - The Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry was established in 2013 to honor the scientific achievements of

Mildred Cohn Mildred Cohn (July 12, 1913 – October 12, 2009) was an American biochemist who furthered understanding of biochemistry, biochemical processes through her study of chemical reactions within animal cell (biology), cells. She was a pioneer in ...

. Cohn was the first female president of the society, in 1978. The award of $5,000 is presented annually to a scientist who has made substantial advances in understanding biological chemistry using innovative physical approaches. The recipient is expected to deliver the Mildred Cohn Award lecture at the annual meeting. * Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award * The Alice and C. C. Wang Award in Molecular Parasitology * Walter A. Shaw Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research *

William C. Rose Award The William C. Rose Award given by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology recognizes outstanding contributions to biochemical and molecular biological research and a demonstrated commitment to the training of younger scientists ...

Student Chapter Awards

* ASBMB Student Chapters Regional Meeting Award * Outstanding Chapter Award * Student Chapter Outreach Grant * ASBMB Undergraduate Research Award * Student Chapters Award

Other awards

* Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship for Undergraduates * Promoting Research Opportunities for Latin American Biochemists * ASBMB Science Fair Award

Recipients of Mildred Cohn Award

Source: *2020 -

Carol Fierke Carol Ann Fierke is an American biochemist who is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Brandeis University. Her research considers biological catalysts and understanding biofunction. She is a fellow of the American Ass ...

*2019 - Angela Gronenborn *2018 –

Leemor Joshua-Tor Leemor Joshua-Tor (Hebrew language, Hebrew: לימור יהושע-תור; born 1961) is the W.M. Keck Professor of Structural Biology at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Her research focuses on the r ...

*2017 – Wei Yang *2016 – Eva Nogales *2015 –

Judith P. Klinman Judith P. Klinman (born April 17, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American chemist, biochemist, and molecular biologist known for her work on enzyme catalysis. She became the first female professor in the physical sciences at the Uni ...

*2014 –

Lila M. Gierasch Lila Mary Gierasch (born 1948 in Needham, Massachusetts, Needham, Massachusetts) is an United States, American biochemist and biophysicist. At present, she is a distinguished Professor working on "protein folding in the cell ...

*2013 – Jennifer A. Doudna

Advocacy

The Public Affairs Office works with the PAAC to advocate for increased research budgets for the major governmental funding agencies, primarily the

National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It was founded in 1887 and is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Service ...

and the

National Science Foundation The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an Independent agencies of the United States government#Examples of independent agencies, independent agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government that su ...

. ASBMB has developed a set of recommendations for

pre-medical Pre-medical (often referred to as pre-med) is an educational track that undergraduate students mostly in the United States pursue prior to becoming medical students. It involves activities that prepare a student for medical school, such as pre-med ...

course requirements consistent with the new

Medical College Admission Test The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT; ) is a Computer-based testing, computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Offshore medical school, Caribbean Islands. It is ...

. Advocacy efforts also focus on protecting the conditions that promote a successful research environment. In addition, the office works to maintain a healthy relationship between ASBMB members, government officials, and the public in order to foster awareness of the importance of science to everyday life. As part of their advocacy efforts, ASBMB organizes Capitol Hill Day, an annual event that allows graduate students and trainees to meet their congressional representatives in Washington, D.C.

References

External links

*
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology records, 1906-2005
at the

University of Maryland, Baltimore County The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a Public university, public research university in Catonsville, Maryland named after Baltimore County, Maryland, Baltimore County. It had a fall 2022 enrollment of 13,991 students, 61 un ...