Myron Melamed - 1927-2013 | Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories

Ingram | Melamed

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

With a deep sadness I want to let know on this forum that Myron Roy Melamed, MD, known among his friends and colleagues as Mike Melamed, died on September 18^th after surviving 6 ½ years with pancreatic cancer. His name is well known in fields of pathology, flow cytometry and imaging cytometry. Mike earned his MD from the University of Cincinnati in 1950 and his residency and fellowship training included internal medicine, hematology, pathology, and histochemistry at the University of Cincinnati, Duke University Hospital, Mount Sinai in New York, and Hammesmith Hospital in London. He served overseas during the Korean War as a Captain in the Army Medical Corps. Dr. Melamed was the Chairman of the Pathology Department at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1979 to 1989 and was also a Professor of Pathology and Biology at Cornell University Medical College. From1991 to 2007 he was the Chairman of the Department of Pathology at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

His contribution in field of cytometry is enormous. In 1965 together with his friend Louis A. Kamentsky, who was then working at IBM Watson Laboratory at Columbia University in New York, they published the seminal paper “Spectrophotometer: New Instrument for Ultra-rapid Cell Analysis” (Science 1965;150:630-631). This was the very first flow cytometer that provided multiparameter analysis, in which ultraviolet absorption and visible light scatter were measured simultaneously and the data were displayed as two-dimensional histograms. It was also the first clinical application of cytometry, in an attempt to measure DNA ploidy of patients’ cells. This instrument provided basis for development of next generation of flow cytometers (the Ortho Cytograph® and Cytofluorograf®) capable of carrying out up to four measurements per cell and the first to record and analyze multiparameter data by interfaced computer. Also jointly with Kamentsky, Mike Melamed published the first paper describing hydraulic cell sorter after identifying cells based on two parametric sensing (Science1967; 156:1364-1365).

Mike’s contribution to field of cytometry stems from his recognition of importance of quantitative analysis of cellular attributes in pathology. He pioneered in developing numerous applications of flow- and laser scanning- cytometry for clinical diagnosis and prognosis, particularly of many types of cancer. Perusal of his publications through Google Scholar reveals numerous original and review articles, extensively cited, utilizing cytometry for analyses of clinical material. It is likely that in historical perspective of development of pathology and cytometry Mike will be recognized as the world most renowned pathologist contributing towards developments in cytometry.

Mike’s contribution comes also from his work to organize and co-ordinate world-wide developments in field of cytometry. He was originator, the Founding Member and one of the first Presidents of the International Society for Analytical Cytology, currently known as the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC). Mike also organized one of the first international Congresses of ISAC, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1979, together with Mortimer Mendelsohn and Paul Mullaney, Mike co-edited the very first monograph “Flow Cytometry and Sorting” (John Wiley & Sons, editors) which become a “bible” for all researchers engaged in flow cytometry. This monograph was rapidly sold-out, and the second, enlarged edition (1990) has become the most after-sought book on cytometry at that time.

Apart of cytometry Mike’ contribution in field of pathology was also widely recognized. He was the President of the American Society of Cytology, and the New York Pathology Society, and served on the board of directors of the New York Transplant program. He co-authored a study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1990 which, for the first time, confirmed the association of second hand smoke and lung cancer. The most recent of Mike’s contribution is the co-authorship with LG Koss in the 5^th edition of “Koss’ Diagnostic Cytology and its Histopathologic Bases” monograph, which is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and authoritative text in field of pathology and clinical cytology.

Mike Melamed received numerous awards and honors for his scientific research and teaching accomplishments including: the Papanicolaou Award of the American Society of Cytopathology, the Maurice Goldblatt Award of the International Society of Cytology, The Daniel Drake Award of the University of Cincinnati Medical School, and the Fred Stewart Award of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for contributions in tumor pathology. He served on the Nobel Prize nominating committee for Medicine.

I had the privilege and pleasure to work and collaborate with Mike since 1974 till1990 in the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, initially working in his laboratory, and then more independently but still in his Pathology Department. I will remember him as a very kind and helpful person. He was friendly and compassionate to all members of his laboratory, regardless of their position, from the technical personnel to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and assistants. His knowledge of pathology and interest, with almost fascination in cytometry, provided a fertile ground to be creative and productive in research linking these disciplines. I do consider Mike to be my key mentor that directed me towards cytometry and pathology, and also a close friend that will be sorely missed.

Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz, MD, Ph.D.

Zbigniew

Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz, MD, PhD.

Professor of Pathology, Medicine and Microbiology/Immunology

New York Medical College

Valhalla, NY.

Department of Pathology

15 Dana Road

Valhalla, NY. 10595

Tel. 914-594-3794, 3780

http://www.darzynkiewicz.com/zbigniew/

http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=olM19WIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao