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Research Collaborate Lab Bench

Charles F. Taketa Memorial Lecture at the ʼһ

Charles Fumito Taketa, PhD

Charles Fumito Taketa, fondly known as ‘Charlie’ by his friends and colleagues, was born March 10, 1926 in Kauai, Hawaii, and received his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1957. In 1958, he joined the faculty of Marquette University School of Medicine in Milwaukee, which subsequently became the ʼһ (MCW). He progressed steadily through the faculty ranks at MCW, becoming a full professor of biochemistry in 1973. He served ably as acting chair of the Biochemistry Department (1980-82) and Vice Chair until his death in 1990.

The major focus of his research was examining the biochemical basis of hemoglobin function, while his later studies focused on the cytotoxicity of organotin compounds. He was a long-time recipient of research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Wisconsin Heart Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Midwest Children’s Cancer Center. Among his many honors were an appointment as a Fogarty Scholar at Kings College, London (1975-76) and MCW’s Distinguished Service Award (1987).

Charlie is sorely missed by his friends and colleagues. Shortly after he passed away in 1990, his family and friends established the Charles Fumito Taketa Memorial Fund at MCW, which sponsors the Taketa Memorial Lecture for promoting excellence in graduate education in the field of Biochemistry. Distinguished scientists in this field are invited to discuss highlights of their work.

Past Taketa Memorial Lecture Speakers

all
2011-2020

April 2019
Stuart Kornfeld, MD
Washington University in St. Louis
School of Medicine

April 2017
James A. Wells, PhD
University of California at San Francisco

April 2016
William S. Sly, MD
Saint Louis University
School of Medicine

April 2014
Ajit Varki, MD
University of California at San Diego

October 2011
Melanie H. Cobb, PhD
University of Texas at Dallas
Southwestern Medical Center

2001-2010

October 2009 
John L. Markley, PhD
University of Wisconsin at Madison

May 2007 
Natalie G. Ahn, PhD
University of Colorado at Boulder

May 2006 
Jack Dixon, PhD
University of California at San Diego

April 2004 
Phillip A. Cole, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University

October 2002
William S. Reznikoff, PhD
University of Wisconsin at Madison

April 2002 
Rowena G. Matthews, PhD
University of Michigan

April 2001 
Gregory Petsko, PhD
Brandeis University

1991-2000

September 1999
Hector DeLuca, PhD
University of Wisconsin at Madison

October 1998
James L. Lessard, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

April 1998
Jonathan Stamler, MD
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Duke University Medical Center

October 1996
Bettie Sue Masters, PhD
University of Texas Health Science Center

October 1995
Richard T. Okita, PhD
Washington State University

May 1994
Robert G. Kemp, PhD
University of Health Sciences 
Chicago Medical School

September 1992
Grant Mauk, PhD
University of British Columbia

October 1991
John W. Suttie, PhD
University of Wisconsin at Madison