Aaron B. Lerner (1920-2007), the Dermatologist Who Discovered Melatonin

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 13 Issue 2 (2008) pp 96-101

Aaron B. Lerner (1920–2007), the Dermatologist Who Discovered Melatonin

Jean-Pierre Adloff and George B. Kauffman*

Honorary Professor, Université Louis Pasteur, 63 Rue Saint Urbain, Strasbourg, France F-67100, jp.adloff@noos.fr, Department of Chemistry, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740-8034, georgek@csufresno.edu

Published online: 29 March 2008

Abstract. Aaron B. Lerner (1920–2007), Professor Emeritus of Dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine and the leading contributor to the field of dermatology during the past half century, died from the complications of Parkinson's disease on February 3, 2007 at the age of 86 in New Haven, Connecticut. This article briefly reviews his life and career, especially his work on melatonin, MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), pigmentation, vitiligo, melanocytic diseases, and cryoglobulin as well as his mentoring of several generations of dermatologists.

Key Words: Chemistry and History; biography

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: georgek@csufresno.edu)

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