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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
3
NOVEMBER
2015
interpretation that explained the biochemical
cycle responsible for converting the energy of ATP
hydrolysis into mechanical energy, what came to
be called the Lymn-Taylor model,” he explains.
The papers are in most basic textbooks on muscle
contraction and became the basis for models of
action by other molecular motors.
After completing his PhD studies, Lymn won
a one-year British-American Heart Association
Fellowship that enabled him to work with
Hugh
Huxley
at the Medical Research Council (MRC)
Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge,
United Kingdom. “With Hugh, I started to work
on physiology and structure, expanding my skills
in electron microscopy and learning fine details of
X-ray crystallography,” Lymn explains. “It was a
great challenge because to that point I had worked
primarily in biochemistry.” His time at MRC was
a highlight of his scientific career—out of only
400 people in the lab, six were Nobel Laureates.
“Whenever I was sitting at a table having coffee or
eating lunch, I typically had a very intensive semi-
nar in some area of scientific research that I had
known only slightly the day before,” he recalls.
His fellowship was extended to three years before
he was recruited to work at the NIH in the
Laboratory of Physical Biology with
Richard
Podolsky
. He worked on improving prototypic
electronic detectors of X-ray diffraction pattern
changes that provided better time resolution of
molecular events than film.
“The biggest challenge in my career was realizing
that the research that I wished to pursue required
a tremendous amount of coordination and fund-
raising,” he says. “This meant an almost complete
shift to becoming a research director. I realized
that I could have a greater impact by directing a
program of muscle research.” In order to work
toward his new goal, he enrolled in the Grants
Associate Program at NIH that provided a year
of training courses and specialized assignments to
various programs throughout the government.
He then moved into a position as Health Scientist
Administrator working with the research
programs in the Division of Arthritis, Bone, and
Skin Diseases. He continued to work with many
active researchers to learn about their research
questions and the strengths and shortcomings
of various experimental techniques, in hopes of
promoting cooperation and coordination among
scientists. “My duties included research training
and career development for the different subjects,
and thus I interacted with biological scientists and
clinical specialists including rheumatologists, der-
matologists, and orthopedists. It was fascinating
to learn about different cultures that supported
the biomedical research endeavor,” Lymn says.
Most of his time at NIH was spent as a Pro-
gram Director of Muscle Biology, responsible for
organizing and expanding a program of research
grants and contracts in the National Institute of
Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to
support research on skeletal muscle. “The pro-
gram was formally established in 1983 and we
convened a multi-disciplinary advisory group,”
he explains. “We developed a list of opportunities
and needs, including emerging genetic analysis
and engineering techniques. It amazes me that
the number of known skeletal muscle proteins
has more than doubled since that time.” At the
start of the program, it supported 75 grants in
biophysics, biochemistry, and skeletal muscle
development. “Twenty years later, with a budget
of more than one hundred million dollars, the
program supported 400 research and develop-
ment grants, including expanded emphasis in the
areas of exercise physiology, genetic and metabolic
diseases of muscle, and treatments for people with
muscle diseases,” Lymn says.
Lymn is now formally retired, but continues to
work to promote research through The Lymn
Foundation. The Foundation grants support to
muscle-related conferences, which then provide
awards to outstanding new investigators. Lymn
also works with patient advocacy groups, such as
the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, providing
scientific and strategic planning advice. Lymn
hopes that his lasting contribution will be one of
encouragement and support for research. He says,
“My advice to young people is that they should
ask lots of questions and try to determine which
ones will be fun and rewarding to answer. They
should learn skills to then convince others of the
excitement and importance of providing support
to answer those questions.”
Profilee-at-a-Glance
Institution
Retired from NIH;
Lymn Foundation
Area of Research
Molecular motors and
skeletal muscle
Richard and Merry Lymn.