About Mark Keller

As a tribute to Mark Keller's contributions to the field of alcohol research, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has established the Mark Keller Honorary Lecture Series. Each year the series features a lecture by an outstanding alcohol researcher who has made significant and long-term contributions to our understanding of how alcohol affects the body and mind, how we can prevent and treat alcohol abuse and alcoholism, and how today's scientific advancements can provide hope for tomorrow. NIAAA is pleased to present this series of scholarly lectures in affirmation of the steady progress alcohol researchers are making toward achieving Mark Keller's vision for the future and in memory of this extraordinary individual.

Kathleen A. Grant, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Behavioral Neurosciences, Oregon Health and Science University and senior scientist, Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, has been selected to receive the 2008 Mark Keller Honorary Award and to deliver the lecture entitled "The Alcoholic Drinking Phenotype in Non-Human Primates: Who Bellies Up to the Bar?"  The program will take place at Lipsett Amphitheater, on the main campus of the National Institutes of Health.

Mark Keller began his career in alcohol-related research and teaching in the mid-1930's at the New York University School of Medicine. In the early 1940's at Yale University, he helped found the first Center of Alcohol Studies. In 1962 the Center moved to Rutgers University where Mr. Keller helped develop the Center's unique library, the most complete alcohol research reference collection in the field. He taught at Brandeis University and was named professor emeritus at Rutgers.

Mr. Keller's more than 200 publications on alcohol and alcoholism include the Dictionary of Words about Alcohol. Among his edited works are the International Bibliography of Studies on Alcohol and the First and Second Special Reports to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health. For nearly 50 years Mr. Keller served as editor and, later, editor emeritus of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol.

When asked about his vision for the future of alcohol research, Mr. Keller responded, "I'm an optimist. My long-range outlook about the field is that gradually, as the result of research, we will learn more and more, and we'll begin to learn how to prevent alcoholism." Mr. Keller's dedication, scholarship, and unique contributions bring us closer to realizing his goal.

Program  |  About the Honoree-Dr. Kathleen A. Grant  | Parking-NIH Campus