DIRECTOR 1979 - 1995
Academic Degree: Doctor in Medical Sciences
Major positions and appointments
Vice-President of the Romanian Academy
President, Romanian Science Foundation
President, National Committee for Molecular Biotechnology
President, Romanian Society for Cell Biology
Visiting Professor, Yale University, New Haven, USA
Ludwig Schaffer Distinguished Visiting Professor of Columbia University, N.Y. USA
Borun Visiting Professor of Cardiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
Visiting Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
NATO Science Committee, Romanian Representative Brussels
Significant new concepts and findings internationally recognized
The concept and the term Transcytosis and Receptor Mediated Transcytosis
In 1979, N. Simionescu published a paper in which his new and inspired term "transcytosis" was for the first time introduced in the scientific literature (Advances in inflammation research, Weisman G. et al, eds. Raven Press, New York, 1979, 1: 61-70).
His concept on transcytosis implied that in endothelial cells, efficient and rapid transport of macromolecules from the plasma to the interstitial fluid is accomplished via vesicles, channels and fenestrae, which carries solutes throught the endothelium by a shortcut between endocytosis and exocytosis, namely by transcytosis (adsorbtive, receptor mediated transcytosis). The concept was based on work carried out with Maya Simionescu and George E. Palade. The new term and concept was extended to all epithelial cells and rapidly adopted by the international scientific community; it become so widely used for different cell systems that today very few people quote or know its original author, a common fact for classic concepts (i.e. endocytosis, exocytosis).
First identification and biochemical characterization of "Extracellular Liposomes" than termed "Modified and Reassembled Lipoproteins" as the earliest event in atherogenesis (in collaboration).
Identification and characterization of "Albumin Binding Proteins" on endothelial cell membrane as well as in other cell types (in collaboration).
Discovery of "transendothelial channels";
Discovery of "biochemically differentiated microdomains of the Endothelial Cell surface" (in collaboration).
New methods in Cell Biology: galloylglucoses as mordants in electron microscopy (1976), isolation of endothelial cells from the heart microvasculature (1978), new ultrastructural permeability tracers, etc. (in collaboration)
A scientific side project: Founder together with Maya Simionescu of the Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology
Founder of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology (1982)
Publications:
over 600 papers in peer review jornals, numerous chapters in national and international monographs and books.
Member of Scientific Societies
American Society for Cell Biology;
American Thyroid Association;
American Association for Advancement of Science;
International Society for Biological Rhythms;
International Society for Stereology;
International Society for Endocrinology;
European Society for Experimental Surgery; European Society for Comparative Endocrinology;
Italian Anatomical Society;
International Committee on Laboratory Animals (Governing Board);
European Artery Club (Governing Board); European Vascular Biology Association
Teaching activities
Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest (20 years)
Visiting Professor, Cell Biology Course, Medicine School, Yale University (20 years)
Advisor Ph.D and MD programs, Yale University and ICBP
Nominated in 1978 by the Ist year medical students for the Bohum Prize honoring the best professor of Yale University School of Medicine.
Lectures on Cell Biology by invitation from Universities: Columbia, New York; Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York; SUNY Downstate Medical School, Brooklyn; NYU Medical School, New York; Massachusetts University, Worcester; Harvard University, School of Medicine, Boston; UCLA Univ., Medical School, Los Angeles; McGill University, Montreal; University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo; Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto; Faculte Xavier Bichat, Paris; Faculty of Medicine, Lisabona.
Invited speaker, chairman and organizer of over 50 International Congresses (USA, Europe, Mexico, Japan, Canada)
Member in editorial boards
Thrombosis Research; Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology; Science et Techniques de l’Animal de Laboratoire; Cell Differentiation; Endothelium.
Consultant to international scientific institutions
WHO expert on experimental endocrinology
Expert, Thyroid Cancer Group of the International Union Against Cancer
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA (grant applications)
National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., USA (grant applications)
Dept. Experimental Medicine, Pharmacia Biotechnology, Uppsala, Sweden
Cardiology Institute of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
Medical Research Council (MRC), London, England (grant applications)
Medical Research Council of Australia, Adelaide, Australia (grant applications)
Medical Research Council of New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
Member of the Planning and Programme of Biblioteca Universalis and of the International University: Pax et Veritas, Szentes, Hungary
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