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The newspaper of The Johns Hopkins University March 15, 2004 | Vol. 33 No. 26
 
Maryland Honors Its Nobel Laureate

In the State House, Del. William J. Frank, Mary Agre, Peter Agre, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich and Del. Susan Aumann.

In a whirlwind visit, Peter Agre is recognized by Governor, Senate, House

By Greg Rienzi
The Gazette

The kudos keep coming for Johns Hopkins' latest Nobel Prize winner, Peter Agre, who on March 5 received recognition for his scientific achievement from the state of Maryland in the form of a Governor's Citation, a Senate Resolution and a House Resolution.

Agre was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his laboratory's 1991 discovery of the long-sought "channels" that regulate and facilitate water molecule transport through cell membranes, a process essential to all living organisms. Researchers around the world now study aquaporins in many species of plants, bacteria and animals and have linked aberrant water transport to a multitude of human diseases and conditions.

The state presentations occurred in Annapolis on a day when the governor and General Assembly were in the midst of struggling with budget issues, the Baltimore City school crisis, votes and hearings, but legislators took the time to honor Agre, professor of biological chemistry at the School of Medicine.

At the reception, Agre with Sen. Verna Jones

Agre and his wife, Mary, were first given a brief tour of the Miller Senate Office Building and an informal opportunity to meet the senators. He received the Governor's Citation during a meeting with Gov. Ehrlich in the State House, with delegates Susan Aumann and William J. Frank in attendance.

Shortly after the House convened, the Agres were called to join Speaker Mike Busch at the rostrum to be recognized. When the resolution was read, Agre received a standing ovation, and then he thanked the delegates for the state's strong support of research and education.

Next, the Agres went to the Senate chamber, where Sen. James Brochin read a resolution commending the Nobelist. Brochin's words, too, were followed by a standing ovation for Agre.

The visit ended in the Senate Office Building, where members of the General Assembly and the governor's cabinet attended an informal reception presided over by Linda Robertson, Johns Hopkins' vice president for government, community and public affairs.


Sen. James Brochin

Sen. Lisa Gladden and Del. Frank Turner

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