Pauling institute looks back on its 10 years on campus
Azumi Nishikawa
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: News
The Linus Pauling Institute, a non-profit research organization for optimum health, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Linus Pauling founded the Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine, later renamed it the Linus Pauling Institute of Science & Medicine, with Arthur B. Robinson and Keene Dimick in California in 1973.
The institute was forced to relocate partly because its old location changed from commercial to residential, Administrative Officer Stephen Lawson said.
Because Pauling was in his 90s, "It was good time to look for a permanent home," Lawson said.
The institute looked at universities for a good fit and OSU seemed like a good place because it had strong pharmacy, nutrition and other departments and those faculties were doing similar research, Lawson said.
In addition, Pauling was born in Portland and graduated from OSU with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
He came back to OSU many times and gave students and faculties lectures, and he was good friends with John Byrone, OSU president at the time, said Balz Frei, director of the institute.
"Dr. Pauling liked OSU," Frei said.
Pauling also had donated all his research works to OSU, which are now available at the library, Frei said. The institute was moved to OSU in 1996 after Pauling's death and became the Linus Pauling Institute.
Pauling is the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes - in both chemistry and peace, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Web site.
He published many books including "How to Live Longer and Feel Better," which became a New York Times bestseller.
"He was a genius and he was a absolutely brilliant scientist," Frei said.
Pauling was knowledgeable, charming and energetic, Lawson said.
Lawson worked with Pauling for 25 years and is the only person in the institute today who personally knew Pauling.
"We spent time talking about scientific studies and mineralogy," Lawson said.
Pauling made very important contributions to many fields.
He kept adding interests because he was curious about many things and wanted to learn about things he did not understand, Lawson said.
"He was really interested in public health. He wanted everybody to live as long as possible in good health," Lawson said.
Pauling had "not only health impacts but also potential economic impact," Lawson said.
"For a penny a day, we can reduce the cancer risk to half," said George Bailey, a principal investigator at LPI.
His study in China showed chlorophyll reduces the effect of aflatoxin, which is a cause of liver cancer.
Bailey said if they can prevent people from getting cancer, it takes a huge burden off health care costs.
"Dr. Pauling had very early influence on my career choice," Bailey said.
He wrote a paper on Pauling's study on protein structure, and it got him interested and changed his major from chemistry to biochemistry.
Inspired by his wife, "he was also work(ed) really hard on peace," Lawson said.
Pauling had, with his wife, collected petition signatures from more than 10,000 scientists concerning atomic bombs.
"He loved life," Lawson said.
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Editor's Note:
Balz Frei is the director of the Linus Pauling Institute. Also, George Bailey is a professor emeritus within the institute. The spelling of both names was printed incorrectly in the Nov. 6 printing of this article.
The Daily Baromter Regrets this error.
Linus Pauling founded the Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine, later renamed it the Linus Pauling Institute of Science & Medicine, with Arthur B. Robinson and Keene Dimick in California in 1973.
The institute was forced to relocate partly because its old location changed from commercial to residential, Administrative Officer Stephen Lawson said.
Because Pauling was in his 90s, "It was good time to look for a permanent home," Lawson said.
The institute looked at universities for a good fit and OSU seemed like a good place because it had strong pharmacy, nutrition and other departments and those faculties were doing similar research, Lawson said.
In addition, Pauling was born in Portland and graduated from OSU with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
He came back to OSU many times and gave students and faculties lectures, and he was good friends with John Byrone, OSU president at the time, said Balz Frei, director of the institute.
"Dr. Pauling liked OSU," Frei said.
Pauling also had donated all his research works to OSU, which are now available at the library, Frei said. The institute was moved to OSU in 1996 after Pauling's death and became the Linus Pauling Institute.
Pauling is the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes - in both chemistry and peace, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Web site.
He published many books including "How to Live Longer and Feel Better," which became a New York Times bestseller.
"He was a genius and he was a absolutely brilliant scientist," Frei said.
Pauling was knowledgeable, charming and energetic, Lawson said.
Lawson worked with Pauling for 25 years and is the only person in the institute today who personally knew Pauling.
"We spent time talking about scientific studies and mineralogy," Lawson said.
Pauling made very important contributions to many fields.
He kept adding interests because he was curious about many things and wanted to learn about things he did not understand, Lawson said.
"He was really interested in public health. He wanted everybody to live as long as possible in good health," Lawson said.
Pauling had "not only health impacts but also potential economic impact," Lawson said.
"For a penny a day, we can reduce the cancer risk to half," said George Bailey, a principal investigator at LPI.
His study in China showed chlorophyll reduces the effect of aflatoxin, which is a cause of liver cancer.
Bailey said if they can prevent people from getting cancer, it takes a huge burden off health care costs.
"Dr. Pauling had very early influence on my career choice," Bailey said.
He wrote a paper on Pauling's study on protein structure, and it got him interested and changed his major from chemistry to biochemistry.
Inspired by his wife, "he was also work(ed) really hard on peace," Lawson said.
Pauling had, with his wife, collected petition signatures from more than 10,000 scientists concerning atomic bombs.
"He loved life," Lawson said.
Editor's Note:
Balz Frei is the director of the Linus Pauling Institute. Also, George Bailey is a professor emeritus within the institute. The spelling of both names was printed incorrectly in the Nov. 6 printing of this article.
The Daily Baromter Regrets this error.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
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