Distinguished professor, Robert A. Harris

"For more than 30 years, we have followed with keen interest his contributions to the field of energy metabolism. His studies have had considerable impact on our understanding of nutrition, obesity, diabetes and other diseases by giving a firm molecular footing to these subjects."

—Edmond H. Fischer, biochemist, and Edwin G. Krebs, pharmacologist, 1992 Nobel Prize winners in medicine

Robert Harris is “undoubtedly the most ‘decorated’ basic science teacher in the history of the School of Medicine,” said his IU colleagues. He also is highly respected as a researcher by the world’s top scientists.

His pivotal research in three areas—amino acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism and mitochondrial signal transduction—is noted by fellow biochemist John T. Brosnan of the Memorial University of Newfoundland. “If there is one distinguishing trait in his scientific outlook, it is his ability to move, effortlessly, from the reductionist experimental approach to whole-body integrative biology. This is a rare gift and is why his work has so much relevance to major human health issues.”

Harris co-authored two recent books, Branched Chain Amino Acids, Part B (2000) and Metabolic Regulation in Mammals (2001), and has written some of the world’s most respected textbook chapters on his areas of expertise.

Chair of his department since 1988, Harris has fostered its remarkable growth—research funding has more than tripled and 10 new faculty members have been added. The department’s Ph.D. program is now the largest in the School of Medicine.

J. Gordon Lindsay, a renowned biochemist at the University of Glasgow, says Harris is “at the peak of his career at present, both in terms of the productivity and quality of his published work. To my mind, Dr. Harris has now taken over the mantle of ‘father of the field.’”