Dr. Zaki A. Sherif Research Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. "This must be my reason for existence. Not to be famous, but to make a lasting difference." Education: B.S., UW-Green Bay, '81, Human Biology M.S., UW-Green Bay, '84, Environmental Microbiology and Cell Biology emphasis Ph.D., Howard University — Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Pre-doctoral: John Hopkins and Howard universities — Molecular Biology Post-doctoral: Stanford and Georgetown universities — Molecular Medicine Expertise, Current Research: Gene discovery, biochemistry, molecular biology and cellular biology, molecular medicine. BREAKTHROUGH: He is recognized in his field for characterizing a novel gene now named ZS (named for Sherif by his colleagues) that he isolated from a family predisposed to developing breast cancer and other primary cancers at an early age. He also recently identified a specific chromosomal rearrangement that is characteristic of breast cancer development in this family (the paper was published in July 2006). His work will help identify predisposition to certain individuals and groups of cancer. The discovery may someday lead to drug therapy, correction of the mutation or altering of the genetic sequence... although much of the techniques of gene therapy are still controversial. His Reaction: "It took six months just to get permission from all 18 family members, almost all of whom came down with cancer. Then you work day and night, and you feel like it is the only thing in your life. When I first identified the gene, I had to be very cautious, because the field is so competitive and others have a tendency to make it their own. So I tested my theory three or four times, and then shared the work with trusted colleagues. Finally, after all that toil and all that effort, you think it might have been worth it. This must be my reason for existence. Not to be famous, but to make a lasting difference. I'm thankful for all the scientists before me, who enabled everything we do now including all our advanced technology. It's a relief that all that work didn't go to waste." Memories: "When I dream, I sometimes dream about Green Bay. I identified with Green Bay as a second home. Maybe it was the landscape, maybe because people were more accepting and curious. I haven't felt very much that way since. I made many good and lasting relationships there. I remember being interviewed by the Green Bay Press-Gazette about Ethiopia, and I said, 'I am not an expert.' They said an expert is anyone serving as a representative from their home country. People like Chancellor Weidner - he was like a grandfather figure to me. The professors were wonderful and they were the ones that gave me outstanding recommendations and got me into different places." Prestigious Appointments: A United Nations Fellow, he assisted efforts to curtail the spread of tropical diseases and the spread of HIV in Southeast Asia and Africa. In 2004, he was inducted into a science and technology hall of fame (from among 59 scientists nominated) in the Washington, D.C., area. He was also named Outstanding Alumnus, Howard University School of Medicine. Second Hobby: Inspiring youth Native Country: Ethiopia UW-Green Bay, Inside UW-Green Bay, November 2006 Dr. Zaki A. Sherif. Research Associate Professor of Biochemistry and ... that is characteristic of breast cancer development in the family (the paper was ... He was also named Outstanding Alumnus, Howard University School of Medicine. Sherif R. Zaki, MD, PhD, DABP Chief, Infectious Disease Pathology, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta GA. He is a patent holder for his research. He found the type of the gene that could be a case for breast cancer. www.uwgb.edu/univcomm/news/insidearchive/06nov1.htm