Oral Histories

Interview of Stephen M. Denning

Subtitle:
Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences: Stephen M. Denning
Series:
Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Topic:
Science, Medicine, and Technology
Interviewer:
Meldrum, Marcia L.
Interviewee:
Denning, Stephen M.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, document the research of "outstanding scientists from quality institutions" chosen by the Pew Scholars Program to receive four-year stipends.
Abstract:
Childhood interest in science; majors in chemistry at Duke University; remains at Duke for medical school; research with Sheldon R. Pinnell on collagen antibodies; internship and residency at University of Chicago; meets wife, Judith J. Johnson; advances in treatment attract him to the field of cardiology; Joseph C. Greenfield Jr.; duties of cardiology fellows at Duke; arranges to do research in Barton F. Haynes's lab; difficulty determining the role of epithelial cells in thymocyte mitosis; the role of interleukins 1 and 2 in thymocyte mitosis; collaborates with Timothy A. Springer in determining the role of lymphocyte function-associated antigens in binding together epithelial cells and developing lymphocytes; belief that the environment in which immature thymocytes develop determines their eventual lymphocyte type; the structure and atmosphere of Denning's lab; clinical duties; collaboration with Rebecca H. Buckley; experiments with CD3 in hopes of finding the genetic switch that regulates T cell development; research on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and lymphocyte splicing; future projects on interleukin 2 and adhesion molecules; technologies that will contribute to increasing cell culture purity; research on molecular mechanisms that will affect the practice of clinical medicine; the difficulties and rewards of being a clinician-investigator; the funding of scientific research; the effect of the Internet on scientific publishing; difficulties minorities and women face in becoming researchers.