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Michael Brattain, Ph.D. |
Mike Brattain, Ph.D., Eppley Institute professor and associate director for basic research in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, died on Saturday, March 5. He was 68.
“Mike was a brilliant scientist who had a prolific scientific career,” said Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Eppley Institute and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “Mike’s experience and input was extremely valuable to me in many areas within the Buffett Cancer Center. He made extensive contributions to the field of cancer research, and he will be remembered for the mentorship he provided to numerous graduate students and post-doctoral associates over the years. His sudden passing is a big loss for the Eppley Institute, the Buffett Cancer Center and the UNMC community, and he will be greatly missed.”
A nationally recognized leader in cancer research, Dr. Brattain’s laboratory focused on the characterization of autocrine growth factors that played key roles in the regulation of cancer cell growth and dissemination including transforming growth factor alpha (TGFa) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFb). He received his first NCI RO1 award in 1978 and was continuously NCI RO1 funded since that time. He was also the recipient of an NCI R37 MERIT award in 2007.
Memorial to be scheduled
A memorial service for Dr. Brattain will be held at UNMC. Details will be shared as soon as they become available.
Since joining the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in 2007, Mike played a key role in reorganization of Cancer Center programs, core facilities and faculty recruitment. He also devoted significant time and effort to mentoring junior faculty and training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
“Mike had an uncanny ability to recognize strengths and talents in people before they recognized them in themselves, and he gave colleagues, trainees and staff the confidence to develop and capitalize on these talents,” said Jenny Black, Ph.D., professor in the Eppley Institute and co-leader of the Gastrointestinal Research Program in the Buffett Cancer Center. Dr. Brattain and Dr. Black were colleagues at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and he was instrumental in recruiting Dr. Black to the Buffett Cancer Center from Roswell Park in 2011.
“Although he would never take any credit for his influence, many of us will be forever grateful for the tremendous impact he has had on our professional and personal lives,” Dr. Black said.
Eppley Institute associate professor Jenny Wang, Ph.D., joined Dr. Brattain’s lab in 1992 as a graduate student.
“He has been not only my mentor, but also like a father figure to me,” said Dr. Wang. “He taught me many lessons on science and life. He has always been very supportive and encouraged me during difficult times. Without his help, I would not be who I am now. He was and will always be my role model, someone I look up to.”
Dear Brattain , We all miss you.
Dr. Brattain was very influential in my career. He took a chance on me by hiring me into my first independent faculty position at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Years later, I was fortunate enough to be recruited again by him, this time to UNMC. Mike was a great mentor; although he was a man of relatively few words, when he gave advice it was always helpful and full of insight. He also knew when to not give advice, but rather to let individuals set their own course. Mike had a wonderful sense of humor and a joyful laugh. He will be remembered and greatly missed.
Adam Karpf
Once again, I have lost a valued professor at UNMC. This one had become a friend as well, and I am heartbroken at his sudden absence. There are those who got to know him longer, better, and in far more scientific ways than I would have ever been able to, but I feel blessed that he shared his time and kind spirit with me, and I am proud to have helped him in his work – in any way I could. Bye Dr. Mike.
Dr. Brattain always had a smile and a good morning for me. I will miss greeting and seeing him in the hallways of DRCII. He will be sorely missed by all of Eppley. My condolences go out to his Family.
We are saddened by the news of Mike’s passing. Mike was my Ph.D. mentor in Medical College of Ohio, 1992-1997. I was one of the first group of graduate students joined his lab when he moved to MCO. I was very fortunate to learn from him not only scientific research, but also being a good person. He will be missed dearly and will always be remembered. -Dianhua Jiang from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at Los Angeles.
Dr. Mike Brattain will be remembered forever by us who have ever had a chance to work with him. Mike was influential in my career. I still remember very clear that after Dr. Carl Porter recruited me from Yale Medical School in 2001, Mike was at the same time recruited to Roswell Park Cancer Institute as the Chair of Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in which I am working since then in the past 15 years. At the starting time as a faculty at Roswell, Mike helped me in revising grant applications and manuscripts, in which I have learned a lot. He will be remembered forever. I missed him leaving from Roswell to UNMC. Fengzhi Li
I have known Dr. Brattain since my time as a graduate student at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. He was a faculty member in the same Department. He was very helpful in my career and his advice and suggestions will be sorely missed. One of the impressive memories I have of Mike is his desk crowded with research journals reflective of his passion for research while being busy with several administrative responsibilities.