SUBJECT:	UC San Diego Researcher Roger Tsien Shares Nobel Prize
	in Chemistry

I am delighted to announce The Nobel Prize Committee in Stockholm announced this morning that our distinguished colleague, Roger Tsien, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology, chemistry and biochemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shares the prize with Japan's Osamu Shimomura and fellow American Martin Chalfie.

I join the entire UC San Diego community – as well as the hundreds of scientists and graduate students worldwide who have collaborated with him – in congratulating Roger Tsien on this accomplishment. He joins the prestigious ranks of fellow Nobel Laureates at UC San Diego whose scholarship is dedicated to improving the lives of people throughout the world.

Tsien is acknowledged for the development and application of fluorescent protein probes that enable scientists to monitor cellular function. He describes his life’s work as “building molecules to look inside of cells, allowing us to see beyond what the human eye can see.” In particular, his laboratory has engineered dyes that gently infiltrate their target, without disrupting or harming the cell, opening new windows into cellular function. His research has revolutionized the fields of cell biology and neurobiology.

Along with his remarkable scientific achievements, Roger also has dedicated much of his time to working with and inspiring high school science students and teachers through the BioBridge program, introducing them to the wonders of DNA research through hands-on experiments in his laboratories. With this selection, the Nobel Prize Committee has honored an outstanding chemist, researcher and faculty member whose influence reaches far beyond the university. To read more about Dr. Roger Tsien and his accomplishments go to: http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/NobelPrize08.asp.

We congratulate Roger and are proud to have one of the newest Nobel Prize winners among our ranks. Tsien’s accomplishment further highlights the local impact, national influence and global reach of our university, our faculty and our research.

Marye Anne Fox Chancellor