Molecular Geneticist Named UB Biochemistry Chair

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Kenneth M. Blumenthal, Ph.D., professor of molecular genetics, biochemistry and microbiology at the University at Cincinnati, has been named chair of the UB Department of Biochemistry, effective Aug. 1.

A specialist in the study of protein structures, Blumenthal has been conducting research in the field funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1976. He currently is principal investigator on a four-year, $596,000 NIH grant to investigate the interaction of peptide blockers with gastric chloride channels.

Blumenthal holds a degree in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Chicago. He completed a three-year NIH postdoctoral fellowship in biological chemistry at the UCLA School of Medicine before joining the faculty of the University of Florida College of Medicine as assistant professor of biochemistry. He also was on the staff of the C.V. Whitney Marine Research Laboratory.

Blumenthal became assistant professor of biological chemistry at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1976 and was promoted to full professor in 1986. While there, he was honored for outstanding teaching for three consecutive years and held several high-level positions within the university.

At his departure, he was chair of the medical school's Committee on Basic Research and associate director of the Ohio Center for Computer-aided Molecular Design housed at the university. He served three terms on the university-wide research council.

Blumenthal is a member of NIH's site-visit teams, and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He has been a member of three NIH study sections.

Blumenthal has authored or co-authored 50 publications in refereed journals and has written five book chapters.