| Date and Place of
Birth: |
Ken Standing was born in Winnipeg,
Manitoba on April 3, 1925. |
| Studies: |
His desire to pursue a career as a
scientist dawned on him as a teenager, when his high
school Physics teacher, Joe Madden, initially sparked
his attraction to science. Standing graduated from the
University of Manitoba with a B.Sc. in Honours Mathematics
and Physics in 1948, and pursued further studies at
Princeton University, where he obtained a Ph.D. in Nuclear
Physics in 1955. |
| Mission: |
From 1958-74, Standing directed the
Cyclotron Laboratory at the University of Manitoba.
His interest in biology blossomed when he was presented
with the challenge of developing a more accurate method
of "analyzing the protein content of Canadian grain
crop". Inspired by this challenge in 1978, Standing
and his group successfully developed a novel approach
involving "an efficient nuclear method" of
detecting protein composition in biological compounds.
Consequently, this experience shifted his interests
into the field of biology, and in particular "the
development of scientific instrumentation for the study
of biomolecular problems". As a result, Standing
began developing his expertise in the field of mass
spectrometry. A mass spectrometer is an instrument that
measures the weight or mass of molecular compounds"
by passing them through a mass analyzer to separate
the compound into its constituent parts". This
tool allows researchers to determine, with great precision,
the chemical composition of a compound in order to help
identify what it is. |
| Achievements:
|
Seeking "to improve the methods
of obtaining and analyzing biological data, especially
the use of mass spectrometry, and help to advance our
knowledge of life and the treatment of disease",
Standing began using mass spectrometry as a tool in
the emerging field of proteomics. Proteomics entails
the analysis of the human genome at the protein level,
that is the study of protein structure and protein-to-protein
interactions in the living cell. Proteins are the products
of genes, and essentially execute the commands dictated
by the genes that encode them. Since most diseases manifest
themselves at the protein level, the ability to identify
proteins and understand how they function in the living
cell will enable researchers to develop new and improved
drugs to better target and treat disease more effectively.
Mass spectrometry now affords this opportunity to investigators
in the field of proteomics. This sophisticated instrument
has the capacity to obtain the exact molecular weights,
as well as a very accurate description of proteins,
and thus provides researchers with the means to acquire
the knowledge that is necessary to explain how living
cells function. |
As a leading Canadian scientist in the field of proteomics,
Standing is currently a Professor Emeritus at the University
of Manitoba and continues to work towards his goal of improving
our knowledge of health and disease. He acknowledges his former
advisor at Princeton, Dr. Rubby Sherr for showing him "the
beauties of research" and for teaching him "the
meaning of scientific integrity".
| Favourite Food:
Grapefruit, asparagus and fresh lamb.
Favourite Music:
Classical music, particularly piano, and the music of
Glenn Gould, Works by Gilbert & Sullivan, Jazz and
pop music from the 40's and 50's.
Favourite Book:
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence
and biographies.
Favourite Movie:
Casablanca.
|
Favourite Animals or Pets:
Black labs; I've had several.
What inspired you as a teenager?
I acquired a certain degree of interest in learning,
particularly in mathematics and science.
Favourite Subject in High School:
Mathematics and Physics.
Favourite Hobbies:
Contruction. In high school I helped my father build
a small addition to our house. In recent years, I designed
our cottage at the Lake of the Woods, and helped construct
it.
|
Credo:
The old Wolf Cub motto: "Do your best" |
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