Ruben Adler, director of the Retinal Degeneration
Center and an internationally recognized
scientist, died Dec. 31 at his home in Columbia, Md. He was
67.
Adler, the Arnall Patz Distinguished Professor of
Ophthalmology, joined the Wilmer Eye
Institute in 1982 and was promoted to professor of
ophthalmology and neurosciences in 1991. His
numerous contributions to the field of eye research include
his participation in the discovery of ciliary
neurotrophic factor, the development of tissue culture
methods for retinal photoreceptors and the
use of cellular and molecular techniques to investigate the
effects of genetic and microenvironmental
factors on these cells.
At the time of his death he was the principal
investigator for several research projects,
including a Visual Neuroscience Training Grant from the
National Eye Institute and a grant from the
Foundation Fighting Blindness. An acknowledged world leader
in vision research, he served on many
advisory boards, including the National Advisory Eye
Council of the National Eye Institute.
In a message to colleagues, Peter J. McDonnell,
director of the Wilmer Eye Institute, wrote,
"Ruben's death is a tremendous loss for the scientific
community and for the many medical and
postdoctoral students he advised at the Wilmer Institute
and the Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine. Over three decades, his wise counsel was an
invaluable resource to three directors of the
institute. A true elder statesman, he delighted in teaching
and furthering the careers of younger
scientists. Recently, he established at Wilmer an internal
mechanism for helping young scientists with
their grant proposals and a committee to oversee and help
ensure the progress of young scientists on
training grants."
Adler is survived by his wife, Marta I. Arostegui;
sons Gabriel, Fernando and Pablo; daughters-
in-law Monica and Christina; four granddaughters; a
sister; and a brother-in-law.
Plans for a memorial service at the Wilmer Eye
Institute will be announced soon.
Donations can be made to
www.doctorswithoutborders.org.