Wayne State University

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School of Medicine

Physiology

Walter Boron, M.D., Ph.D.

Walter Boron, M.D., Ph.D.

walter.boron@case.edu

216-368-8978

216-368-5586 (fax)

Walter Boron, M.D., Ph.D.

Office Address

Case Western Reserve, SoM E524
10900 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44116

Position Title

Professor

Areas of Interest

Acid-base homeostasis-regulation of intracellular pH, gas channels

Narrative Bio

Dr. Walter Boron obtained his undergraduate degree in chemistry at Saint Louis University in 1971, graduating Summa cum laude. He studied medicine and physiology at Washington University in St. Louis, where he received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics in 1977 under the mentorship of Albert Roos. During this time, Boron also collaborated with Paul De Weer and John Russell. He joined Yale University as a postdoctoral fellow with Emile L. Boulpaep in 1978.

Dr. Boron is the 72nd president of the American Physiological Society (from 1999 to 2000). He is currently secretary-general of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. Additionally, Boron is co-editor, along with Emile L. Boulpaep, of the text book Medical Physiology and former editor-in-chief of two leading physiology journals, Physiological Reviews and Physiology.

Today, Dr. Boron is the David N. and Inez Myers/Antonio Scarpa Professor and chairman of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University.

 

Laboratory Web Site

https://physiology.case.edu/people/faculty/walter-f-boron/

Research

We have three major research areas. These evolved from our longstanding interest in intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis, which is critically important because virtually every biological process—cell division, metabolism, action of channels/transporters/structural proteins—depends on pHi. Our three projects interact philosophically and technically. Philosophically, pHi homeostasis depends on HCO3− and H+ transport across cell membranes, which in turn depends on pH, [CO2] and [HCO3−] in the extracellular (o) fluid. The kidneys regulate pHo by regulating [HCO3−]o—and they do this by using novel sensors to sniff CO2 and HCO3− in the blood. The lungs, controlled by brainstem neurons, regulate pHo by regulating [CO2]o. The whole system depends on movements of CO2 (and other gases) through gas channels in the cell membrane. Technically, our projects exploit technologies ranging from structural biology, through molecular and cell physiology, to whole tissues and organisms.) fluid. The kidneys regulate pHo by regulating [HCO3−]o—and they do this by using novel sensors to sniff CO2 and HCO3− in the blood. The lungs, controlled by brainstem neurons, regulate pHo by regulating [CO2]o. The whole system depends on movements of CO2 (and other gases) through gas channels in the cell membrane. Technically, our projects exploit technologies ranging from structural biology, through molecular and cell physiology, to whole tissues and organisms.

Publications

For a complete list of Dr. Boron's publications, please visit: Boron PubMed

Post Graduate Training

  • 1978-1980: Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
  • 1977-1978: Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

  1. Physiology Updated 2nd Edition in category Basic and Clinical Sciences of BMA Medical Book Awards, 2012
  2. British Medical Association Certificate of Honor (shared with E.L. Boulpaep & Elsevier) for Medical
  3. Palade Gold Medal (shared with William Catterall and Richard Tsien), Wayne State University, 2010
  4. Ray G. Daggs Award, American Physiological Society, 2011
  5. PROSE (Professional and Scholarly Excellence) Award for the journal Physiology in category Journal, Best Design in Print, Association of American Publishers, 2009
  6. Sharpey-Schafer Award, The Physiological Society (London), 2008
  7. Homer Smith Award, American Society of Nephrology, 2005
  8. NIH MERIT Award (NIDDK), 2002-2011
  9. Elected Fellow, American Academy for the Advancement of Science, 1998
  10. Carl W. Gottschalk Lecture and Award, Renal Section of the American Physiological Society, 1998
  11. Robert F. Pitts Lecture and Award, Renal Commission of the International Union of Physiological Sciences, 1993
  12. Charles W. Bohmfalk Teaching Award, Yale University School of Medicine, 1993
  13. Young Investigator Award, American Society of Nephrology & American Heart Association, 1986
  14. NIH Research Career Development Award, 1983-1988
  15. Searle Scholar, 1981-1984
  16. NIH Research Service Award (postdoctoral fellowship), 1977-1980
  17. Sigma Xi
  18. Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Nu, Pi Mu Epsilon, Beta Beta Beta Grass Foundation MBL Fellow, 1975
  19. Marcus Award (undergraduate research in chemistry), 1971

Education

  • M.D. - Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Ph.D. - Physiology and Biophysics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

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