Richard H. Ebright: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Ebright was appointed as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at [[Rutgers University]] and as a Laboratory Director at the [[Waksman Institute of Microbiology]] in 1987.<ref name="Waksman" /> He was co-appointed as an Investigator of the [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]] from 1997 to 2013.<ref name="Waksman" />

Ebright's research accomplishments include the experimental demonstration that amino-acid-base contacts mediate DNA sequence recognition in [[protein-DNA interaction]],<ref name="Naryshkin">{{cite journal |last1=Naryshkin |first1=N. |last2=Revyakin |first2=A. |last3=Kim |first3=Y. |last4=Mekler |first4=V. |last5=Ebright |first5=R. H. |year=2000 |title=Structural organization of the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex |journal=Cell |volume=101 |issue=6 |pages=601–611 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80872-7 |pmid=10892647 |s2cid=9834684 | doi-access = free}}</ref><ref name="Mekler">{{cite journal |last1=Mekler |first1=V. |last2=Kortkhonjia |first2=E. |last3=Mukhopadhyay |first3=J. |last4=Knight |first4=J. |last5=Revyakin |first5=A. |last6=Kapanidis |first6=A. |last7=Niu |first7=W. |last8=Ebright |first8=Y. |last9=Levy |first9=R. | last10 = Ebright | first10 = R. H. |year=2002 |title=Structural organization of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme and the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex |journal=Cell |volume=108 |issue=5 |pages=599–614 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00667-0 |pmid=11893332 |s2cid=4938696 | doi-access = free}}</ref><ref name="Chakraborty">{{cite journal |last1=Chakraborty |first1=A. |last2=Wang |first2=D. |last3=Ebright |first3=Y. |last4=Korlann |first4=Y. |last5=Kortkhonjia |first5=E. |last6=Kim |first6=T. |last7=Chowdhury |first7=S. |last8=Wigneshweraraj |first8=S. |last9=Irschik |first9=H. | last10 = Jansen | first10 = R. |last11=Nixon |first11=B.T. |last12=Knight |first12=J. |last13=Weiss |first13=S. |last14=Ebright |first14=R. H. |year=2012 |title=Opening and closing of the bacterial RNA polymerase clamp |journal=Science |volume=337 |issue=6094 |pages=591–595 |doi=10.1126/science.1218716 |pmid=22859489 |pmc=3626110 |bibcode=2012Sci...337..591C}}</ref> the demonstration that transcription start-site selection and [[abortive initiation|initial transcription]] involve "[[DNA scrunching]]",<ref name="Kapanidis">{{cite journal |author1=Kapanidis, A. N. |author2=Margeat, E. |author3=Ho, S. O. |author4=Kortkhonjia, E. |author5=Weiss, S. |author6=Ebright, R. H. |year=2006 |title=Initial transcription by RNA polymerase proceeds through a DNA-scrunching mechanism |journal=Science |volume=314 |issue=5802 |pages=1144–1147 |pmid=17110578 |doi=10.1126/science.1131399 |pmc=2754788 |bibcode=2006Sci...314.1144K}}</ref><ref name="Revyakin">{{cite journal |author1=Revyakin, A. |author2=Liu, C. |author3=Ebright, R. H. |author4=Strick, T. |year=2006 |title=Abortive initiation and productive initiation by RNA polymerase involve DNA scrunching |journal=Science |volume=314 |issue=5802 |pages=1139–1143 |doi=10.1126/science.1131398 |pmid=17110577 |pmc=2754787 |bibcode=2006Sci...314.1139R}}</ref><ref name="Winkelman">{{cite journal |last1=Winkelman |first1=J. |last2=Vvedenskaya |first2=I. |last3=Zhang |first3=Y. |last4=Bird |first4=J. |last5=Taylor |first5=D. |last6=Gourse |first6=R. |last7=Ebright |first7=R. |last8=Nickels |first8=B. |year=2016 |title=Multiplexed protein-DNA cross-linking: Scrunching in transcription start site selection |journal=Science |volume=351 |issue=6277 |pages=1090–1093 |doi=10.1126/science.aad6881 |pmid=26941320 |pmc=4797950 |bibcode=2016Sci...351.1090W}}</ref> the demonstration that [[activator (genetics)|transcription activation]] can proceed by a "recruitment" mechanism,<ref name="Heyduk">{{cite journal |last1=Heyduk |first1=T. |last2=Lee |first2=J. |last3=Ebright |first3=Y. |last4=Blatter |first4=E. |last5=Zhou |first5=Y. |last6=Ebright |first6=R. H. |year=1993 |title=CAP interacts with RNA polymerase in solution in the absence of promoter DNA |journal=Nature |volume=364 |issue=6437 |pages=548–549 |doi=10.1038/364548a0 |pmid=8393148 |bibcode=1993Natur.364..548H |s2cid=4248533}}</ref><ref name="Benoff">{{cite journal |author1=Benoff, B. |author2=Yang, H. |author3=Lawson, C. L. |author4=Parkinson, G. |author5=Liu, J. |author6=Blatter, E. |author7=Ebright, Y. W. |author8=Berman, H. M. |author9=Arnold, E. |author10=Ebright, R. H. |year=2002 |title=Structural basis of transcription activation: the CAP-alphaCTD-DNA complex |journal=Science |volume=297 |issue=5586 |pages=1562–1566 |pmid=12202833 |doi=10.1126/science.1076376 |bibcode=2002Sci...297.1562B |s2cid=17422837}}</ref><ref name="Feng">{{cite journal |author1=Feng, Y. |author2=Zhang, Y. |author3=Ebright, R. H. |year=2016 |title=Structural basis of transcription activation |journal=Science |volume=352 |issue=6291 |pages=1330–1333 |doi=10.1126/science.aaf4417 |pmid=27284196 |pmc=4905602 |bibcode=2016Sci...352.1330F}}</ref> the demonstration that bacterial [[transcription-translation coupling]] involves direct physical bridging of [[RNA polymerase]] and a [[ribosome]] by NusA and NusG,<ref name="Wang">{{cite journal |author1=Wang, C. |author2=Molodtsov, V. |author3=Firlar, E. |author4=Kaelber, J. |author5=Blaha, G. |author6=Su, M. |author7=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2020 |title=Structural basis of transcription-translation coupling |journal=Science |volume=369 |issue=6509 |pages=1359–1365 |doi=10.1126/science.abb5317 |pmid=32820061 |pmc=7566311 |bibcode=2020Sci...369.1359W}}</ref> and the identification of novel antibacterial drug targets in bacterial RNA polymerase.<ref name="Mukhopadhyay">{{cite journal |author1=Mukhopadhyay, J. |author2=Das, K. |author3=Ismail, S. |author4=Koppstein, D. |author5=Jang, M. |author6=Hudson, B. |author7=Sarafianos, S. |author8=Tuske, S. |author9=Patel, J. |author10=Jansen, R. |author11=Irschik, H. |author12=Arnold, E. |author13=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=The RNA polymerase "switch region" is a target for inhibitors |journal=Cell |volume=135 |issue=2 |pages=295–307 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.033 |pmc=2580802 |pmid=18957204}}</ref><ref name="Maffioli">{{cite journal |author1=Maffioli, S. |author2=Zhang, Y. |author3=Degen, D. |author4=Carzaniga, T. |author5=Del Gatto, G. |author6=Serina, S. |author7=Monciardini, P. |author8=Mazzetti, C. |author9=Guglierame, P. |author10=Candiani, G. |author11=Chiriac, A. I. |author12=Facchetti, G. |author13=Kaltofen, P. |author14=Sahl, H.-G. |author15=Dehò, G. |author16=Donadio, S. |author17=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2017 |title=Antibacterial nucleoside-analog inhibitor of bacterial RNA polymerase |journal=Cell |volume=169 |issue=7 |pages=1240–1248 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.042 |pmid=28622509 |pmc=5542026}}</ref>

Ebright has performed research on [[protein-DNA interaction]],<ref name="Ebright">{{Cite journal |last1=Ebright |first1=R. H. |last2=Cossart |first2=P. |last3=Gicquel-Sanzey |first3=B. |last4=Beckwith |first4=J. |title=Mutations that alter the DNA sequence specificity of the catabolite gene activator protein of E. coli |journal=Nature |volume=311 |issue=5983 |pages=232–235 |year=1984 |pmid=6090927 |doi=10.1038/311232a0 |bibcode=1984Natur.311..232E |s2cid=4261408}}</ref><ref name="Blatter">{{cite journal |pmid=1406998 |doi=10.1038/359650a0 |volume=359 |title=Identification of an amino acid-base contact in the GCN4-DNA complex by bromouracil-mediated photocrosslinking |year=1992 |journal=Nature |pages=650–2 |last1=Blatter |first1=E. |last2=Ebright |first2=Y. |last3=Ebright |first3=R. H. |issue=6396 |bibcode=1992Natur.359..650B |s2cid=4262228}}</ref><ref name="Pendergrast">{{cite journal |pmid=8052855 |doi=10.1126/science.8052855 |volume=265 |title=High-specificity DNA cleavage agent: design and application to kilobase and megabase DNA substrates |year=1994 |journal=Science |pages=959–62 |last1=Pendergrast |first1=P. S. |last2=Ebright |first2=Y. |last3=Ebright |first3=R. H. |issue=5174 |bibcode=1994Sci...265..959P}}</ref>

[[transcription (genetics)|transcription initiation]],<ref name="Naryshkin">{{cite journal |last1=Naryshkin |first1=N. |last2=Revyakin |first2=A. |last3=Kim |first3=Y. |last4=Mekler |first4=V. |last5=Ebright |first5=R. H. |year=2000 |title=Structural organization of the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex |journal=Cell |volume=101 |issue=6 |pages=601–611 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80872-7 |pmid=10892647 |s2cid=9834684 | doi-access = free}}</ref><ref name="Mekler">{{cite journal |last1=Mekler |first1=V. |last2=Kortkhonjia |first2=E. |last3=Mukhopadhyay |first3=J. |last4=Knight |first4=J. |last5=Revyakin |first5=A. |last6=Kapanidis |first6=A. |last7=Niu |first7=W. |last8=Ebright |first8=Y. |last9=Levy |first9=R. | last10 = Ebright | first10 = R. H. |year=2002 |title=Structural organization of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme and the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex |journal=Cell |volume=108 |issue=5 |pages=599–614 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00667-0 |pmid=11893332 |s2cid=4938696 | doi-access = free}}</ref><ref name="Kapanidis">{{cite journal |author1=Kapanidis, A. N. |author2=Margeat, E. |author3=Ho, S. O. |author4=Kortkhonjia, E. |author5=Weiss, S. |author6=Ebright, R. H. |year=2006 |title=Initial transcription by RNA polymerase proceeds through a DNA-scrunching mechanism |journal=Science |volume=314 |issue=5802 |pages=1144–1147 |pmid=17110578 |doi=10.1126/science.1131399 |pmc=2754788 |bibcode=2006Sci...314.1144K}}</ref><ref name="Revyakin">{{cite journal |author1=Revyakin, A. |author2=Liu, C. |author3=Ebright, R. H. |author4=Strick, T. |year=2006 |title=Abortive initiation and productive initiation by RNA polymerase involve DNA scrunching |journal=Science |volume=314 |issue=5802 |pages=1139–1143 |doi=10.1126/science.1131398 |pmid=17110577 |pmc=2754787 |bibcode=2006Sci...314.1139R}}</ref><ref name="Chakraborty">{{cite journal |last1=Chakraborty |first1=A. |last2=Wang |first2=D. |last3=Ebright |first3=Y. |last4=Korlann |first4=Y. |last5=Kortkhonjia |first5=E. |last6=Kim |first6=T. |last7=Chowdhury |first7=S. |last8=Wigneshweraraj |first8=S. |last9=Irschik |first9=H. | last10 = Jansen | first10 = R. |last11=Nixon |first11=B.T. |last12=Knight |first12=J. |last13=Weiss |first13=S. |last14=Ebright |first14=R. H. |year=2012 |title=Opening and closing of the bacterial RNA polymerase clamp |journal=Science |volume=337 |issue=6094 |pages=591–595 |doi=10.1126/science.1218716 |pmid=22859489 |pmc=3626110 |bibcode=2012Sci...337..591C}}</ref><ref name="Zhang">{{Cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Y. |last2=Feng |first2=Y. |last3=Chatterjee |first3=S. |last4=Tuske |first4=S. |last5=Ho |first5=M. X. |last6=Arnold |first6=E. |last7=Ebright |first7=R. H. |doi=10.1126/science.1227786 |title=Structural Basis of Transcription Initiation |journal=Science |year=2012 |pmid=23086998 |pmc=3593053 |volume=338 |issue=6110 |pages=1076–80 |bibcode=2012Sci...338.1076Z}}</ref><ref name="Winkelman">{{cite journal |last1=Winkelman |first1=J. |last2=Vvedenskaya |first2=I. |last3=Zhang |first3=Y. |last4=Bird |first4=J. |last5=Taylor |first5=D. |last6=Gourse |first6=R. |last7=Ebright |first7=R. |last8=Nickels |first8=B. |year=2016 |title=Multiplexed protein-DNA cross-linking: Scrunching in transcription start site selection |journal=Science |volume=351 |issue=6277 |pages=1090–1093 |doi=10.1126/science.aad6881 |pmid=26941320 |pmc=4797950 |bibcode=2016Sci...351.1090W}}</ref>

[[activator (genetics)|transcription activation]],<ref name="Heyduk">{{cite journal |last1=Heyduk |first1=T. |last2=Lee |first2=J. |last3=Ebright |first3=Y. |last4=Blatter |first4=E. |last5=Zhou |first5=Y. |last6=Ebright |first6=R. H. |year=1993 |title=CAP interacts with RNA polymerase in solution in the absence of promoter DNA |journal=Nature |volume=364 |issue=6437 |pages=548–549 |doi=10.1038/364548a0 |pmid=8393148 |bibcode=1993Natur.364..548H |s2cid=4248533}}</ref><ref name ="Zhou">{{cite journal |last1=Zhou |first1=Y. |last2=Busby |first2=S. |last3=Ebright |first3=R. H. |year=1993 |title=Identification of the functional subunit of a dimeric transcription activator protein by use of "oriented heterodimers |journal=Cell |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=375–379 |doi=10.1016/0092-8674(93)90236-J |pmid=8477449 |s2cid=45343114}}</ref><ref name="Chan">{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Y. |last2=Ebright |first2=Y. |last3=Ebright |first3=R. H. |year=1994 |title=Identification of the target of a transcription activator protein by protein-protein photocrosslinking |journal=Science |volume=265 |issue=5168 |pages=90–92 |doi=10.1126/science.8016656 |pmid=8016656 |bibcode=1994Sci...265...90C}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Niu |first1=W. |last2=Kim |first2=Y. |last3=Tau |first3=G. |last4=Heyduk |first4=T. |last5=Ebright |first5=R. H. |year=1996 |title=Transcription activation at Class II CAP-dependent promoters: two interactions between CAP and RNA polymerase |journal=Cell |volume=87 |issue=6 |pages=1123–1134 |doi=10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81806-1 |pmid=8978616 |pmc=4430116}}</ref><ref name="Benoff">{{cite journal |author1=Benoff, B. |author2=Yang, H. |author3=Lawson, C. L. |author4=Parkinson, G. |author5=Liu, J. |author6=Blatter, E. |author7=Ebright, Y. W. |author8=Berman, H. M. |author9=Arnold, E. |author10=Ebright, R. H. |year=2002 |title=Structural basis of transcription activation: the CAP-alphaCTD-DNA complex |journal=Science |volume=297 |issue=5586 |pages=1562–1566 |pmid=12202833 |doi=10.1126/science.1076376 |bibcode=2002Sci...297.1562B |s2cid=17422837}}</ref><ref name="Feng">{{cite journal |author1=Feng, Y. |author2=Zhang, Y. |author3=Ebright, R. H. |year=2016 |title=Structural basis of transcription activation |journal=Science |volume=352 |issue=6291 |pages=1330–1333 |doi=10.1126/science.aaf4417 |pmid=27284196 |pmc=4905602 |bibcode=2016Sci...352.1330F}}</ref> [[transcription-translation coupling]],<ref name="Wang">{{cite journal |author1=Wang, C. |author2=Molodtsov, V. |author3=Firlar, E. |author4=Kaelber, J. |author5=Blaha, G. |author6=Su, M. |author7=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2020 |title=Structural basis of transcription-translation coupling |journal=Science |volume=369 |issue=6509 |pages=1359–1365 |doi=10.1126/science.abb5317 |pmid=32820061 |pmc=7566311 |bibcode=2020Sci...369.1359W}}</ref>

and [[antibacterial]] drug discovery.<ref name="Mukhopadhyay">{{cite journal |author1=Mukhopadhyay, J. |author2=Das, K. |author3=Ismail, S. |author4=Koppstein, D. |author5=Jang, M. |author6=Hudson, B. |author7=Sarafianos, S. |author8=Tuske, S. |author9=Patel, J. |author10=Jansen, R. |author11=Irschik, H. |author12=Arnold, E. |author13=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=The RNA polymerase "switch region" is a target for inhibitors |journal=Cell |volume=135 |issue=2 |pages=295–307 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.033 |pmc=2580802 |pmid=18957204}}</ref><ref name="GE23077">{{cite journal |author1=Zhang, Y. |author2=Degen, D. |author3=Ho, M. X. |author4=Sineva, E. |author5=Ebright, K. |author6=Ebright, Y. W. |author7=Mekler, V. |author8=Vahedian-Movahed, H. |author9=Feng, Y. |author10=Yin, R. |author11=Tuske, S. |author12=Irschik, H. |author13=Jansen, R. |author14=Maffioli, S. |author15=Donadio, S. |author16=Arnold, E. |author17=Ebright, R. H. |year=2014 |title=GE23077 binds to the RNA polymerase 'i' and 'i+1' sites and prevents the binding of initiating nucleotides |journal=eLife |volume=3 |pages=e02450 |doi=10.7554/eLife.02450 |pmid=24755292 |pmc=3994528}}</ref><ref name = "Feng Sal">{{cite journal |last1=Degen |first1=D. |last2=Feng |first2=Y. |last3=Zhang |first3=Y. |last4=Ebright |first4=K. |last5=Ebright |first5=Y. |last6=Gigliotti |first6=M. |last7=Vahedian-Movahed |first7=H. |last8=Mandal |first8=S. |last9=Talaue |first9=M. | last10 = Connell | first10 = N. |last11=Arnold |first11=E. |last12=Fenical |first12=W. |last13=Ebright |first13=R. |year=2014 |title=Transcription inhibition by the depsipeptide antibiotic salinamide A |journal=eLife |volume=3 |pages=e02451 |doi=10.7554/eLife.02451 |pmid=24843001 |pmc=4029172}}</ref><ref name="Lin">{{cite journal |author1=Lin, W. |author2=Mandal, S. |author3=Degen, D. |author4=Liu, Y. |author5=Ebright, Y. W. |author6=Li. S. |author7=Feng, Y. |author8=Zhang, Y. |author9=Mandal, S. |author10=Jiang, Y. |author11=Liu, S. |author12=Gigliotti, M. |author13=Talaue, M. |author14=Connell, N. |author15=Das, K. |author16=Arnold, E. |author17=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2017 |title=Structural basis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transcription and transcription inhibition |journal=Mol. Cell |volume=66 |issue=2 |pages=169–179 |doi=10.1016/j.molcel.2017.03.001 |pmid=28392175 |pmc=5438085}}</ref><ref name="Maffioli">{{cite journal |author1=Maffioli, S. |author2=Zhang, Y. |author3=Degen, D. |author4=Carzaniga, T. |author5=Del Gatto, G. |author6=Serina, S. |author7=Monciardini, P. |author8=Mazzetti, C. |author9=Guglierame, P. |author10=Candiani, G. |author11=Chiriac, A. I. |author12=Facchetti, G. |author13=Kaltofen, P. |author14=Sahl, H.-G. |author15=Dehò, G. |author16=Donadio, S. |author17=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2017 |title=Antibacterial nucleoside-analog inhibitor of bacterial RNA polymerase |journal=Cell |volume=169 |issue=7 |pages=1240–1248 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.042 |pmid=28622509 |pmc=5542026}}</ref><ref name="Lin2018">{{cite journal |author1=Lin, W. |author2=Das, K. |author3=Degen, D. |author4=Mazumder, A. |author5=Duchi, D. |author6=Wang, D. |author7=Ebright, Y. |author8=Ebright, R.Y. |author9=Sineva, E. |author10=Gigliotti, M. |author11=Srivastava, A. |author12=Mandal, S. |author13=Jiang, Y. |author14=Liu, Y. |author15=Yin, R. |author16=Zhang, Z. |author17=Eng, E. |author18=Thomas, D. |author19=Donadio, S. |author20=Zhang, H. |author21=Zhang, C. |author22=Kapanidis, A. |author23=Ebright, R. H. |name-list-style=amp |year=2018 |title=Structural basis of transcription inhibition by fidaxomicin (lipiarmycin A3) |journal=Mol. Cell |volume=70 |issue=1 |pages=60–71 |doi=10.1016/j.molcel.2018.02.026 |pmid=29606590 |pmc=6205224}}</ref>

Ebright's research results include the experimental demonstration that amino-acid-base contacts mediate DNA sequence recognition in protein–DNA interaction,<ref name="Ebright"/> the determination of the three-dimensional structural organization of the transcription initiation complex;<ref name="Naryshkin"/><ref name="Mekler"/><ref name="Chakraborty"/><ref name="Zhang"/> the demonstration that transcription start-site selection and [[abortive initiation|initial transcription]] involve a "[[DNA scrunching]]" mechanism;<ref name="Kapanidis"/><ref name="Revyakin"/><ref name="Winkelman"/> the demonstration that transcription activation can proceed by a "recruitment" mechanism;<ref name="Heyduk"/><ref name="Zhou"/><ref name="Chan"/><ref name="Benoff"/><ref name="Feng" /> the demonstration that bacterial transcription-translation coupling involves direct physical bridging of [[RNA polymerase]] and a [[ribosome]] by NusA and NusG;<ref name="Wang"/> and the identification of novel antibacterial drug targets in bacterial RNA polymerase.<ref name="Mukhopadhyay"/><ref name="GE23077"/><ref name="Feng Sal"/><ref name="Lin"/><ref name="Maffioli"/><ref name="Lin2018"/>

In 1994, Ebright was awarded the [[American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology]] Schering-Plough Award for his research on transcription activation.<ref name="ASBMB">{{cite web |title=ASBMB/Schering-Plough Research Institute Award |url=http://www.asbmb.org/Page.aspx?id=510 |access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> In 1995, he received the Academic Press Walter J. Johnson Prize.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=The Walter J. Johnson Prize, 1995 |journal=Journal of Molecular Biology |volume=251 |issue=3 |pages=329 |year=1995 |pmid=7650734}}</ref> In 2013, he received a National Institutes of Health MERIT Award.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gifts & Grants |url=http://bulletin.rutgers.edu/bulletin-sections/gifts-grants |newspaper=Rutgers University Faculty and Staff Bulletin |date=June 12, 2013 |access-date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> He was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1996,<ref name="AAM">{{cite web |title=American Academy of Microbiology Fellowship Directory |url=http://academy.asm.org/index.php/fellows/fellows-directory |access-date=October 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807112021/http://academy.asm.org/index.php/fellows/fellows-directory |archive-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref> the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2004,<ref>{{cite press release |title=AAAS Council Honors 308 Members for Their Contributions to Science |url=http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2004/1101fellows.shtml |publisher=AAAS |date=November 1, 2004 |access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |title=Congratulations, New IDSA Fellows! |url=http://news.idsociety.org/idsa/issues/2011-08-02/14.html |newspaper=IDSA News |date=July–August 2011 |access-date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016.<ref>{{cite press release |title=American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elects 213 National and International Scholars, Artists, Philanthropists, and Business and Civic Leaders |url=https://www.amacad.org/content/news/pressReleases.aspx?pr=10257 |publisher=American Academy of Arts and Sciences |date=April 20, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2016}}</ref> Richard Ebright is the subject of a piece named "The Making of a Scientist" in a high school textbook published by [[National Council of Educational Research and Training|NCERT]] (and recommended by the [[Central Board of Secondary Education|CBSE]]) in India.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Footprints Without Feet |publisher=NCERT |year=2007 |isbn=81-7450-709-4 |edition=December 2017 |location=India |pages=32-38 |language=en}}</ref>

He has opposed the proliferation of laboratories working on [[biological weapons]] agents and has supported the strengthening of [[biosafety]] and [[biosecurity]] measures to reduce risks of release of [[biological weapons]].<ref name="~~biosafety~~BioWeapons"/>

==COVID-19 origins==

{{main|Investigations into the origin of COVID-19|COVID-19 lab leak theory}}

Ebright has stated that the genome and properties of [[SARS-CoV-2]] provide no basis to conclude the virus was engineered as a bioweapon,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=A. |date=January 29, 2020 |title=Experts debunk fringe theory linking China's coronavirus to weapons research |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/01/29/experts-debunk-fringe-theory-linking-chinas-coronavirus-weapons-research/}}</ref><ref name="WaPo20200217">{{Cite news |last=Firozi |first=P. |date=February 17, 2020 |title=Tom Cotton keeps repeating a coronavirus fringe theory that scientists have disputed |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/16/tom-cotton-coronavirus-conspiracy/}}</ref> but he also has stated that the possibility that the virus entered humans through a laboratory accident cannot be dismissed~~<ref>{{Cite~~ ~~news~~and ~~|last=Cohen~~has ~~|first=J.~~called ~~|date=January~~for ~~31,~~a ~~2020~~thorough ~~|title=Mining~~investigation ~~coronavirus~~of ~~genomes~~the ~~for~~origin ~~clues to~~of the ~~outbreak's~~pandemic ~~origins~~and ~~|work=Science~~for ~~|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/mining-coronavirus-genomes-clues-outbreak-s-origins}}</ref><ref>{{Cite~~measures ~~news~~to ~~|last=Ignatius~~reduce ~~|first=D.~~the ~~|date=April~~risk 2,of ~~2020~~future ~~|title=How did covid-19 begin? Its initial origin story is shaky |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www~~pandemics.~~washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/how-did-covid-19-begin-its-initial-origin-story-is-shaky/2020/04/02/1475d488-7521-11ea-87da-77a8136c1a6d_story.html}}</ref>~~<ref name="CohenScienceJan2020">{{Cite news |last=~~Taylor~~Cohen |first=AJ. |date=~~April~~January 1631, 2020 |title=~~What caused the~~Mining coronavirus? Agenomes ~~skeptical~~for ~~take~~clues ~~on the theories about~~to the outbreak's ~~Chinese origin~~origins |~~newspaper~~work=~~The Washington Post~~Science |url=https://www.~~washingtonpost~~science.~~com~~org/~~world~~content/~~2020~~article/~~04/16/what-caused~~mining-coronavirus-~~skeptical~~genomes-~~take~~clues-~~theories~~outbreak-~~about~~s-~~outbreaks-chinese-origin/~~origins}}</ref><ref~~>{{Cite~~ ~~news |last1~~name=Mazzetti |first1=M. |last2=Barnes |first2=J. |last3=Wong |first3=E. |last4=Goldman |first4=A. |date=April 30, 2020 |title=Trump Officials Are Said to Press Spies to Link Virus and Wuhan Labs |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/us/politics/trump-administration-intelligence-coronavirus-china.html?searchResultPosition=7}}</ref><ref"WarrickWashPoMay2020">{{Cite news |last1=Warrick |first1=J. |last2=Nakashima |first2=E. |last3=Harris |first3=S. |last4=Fifield |first4=A. |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Chinese lab conducted extensive research on deadly bat viruses, but there is no evidence of accidental release |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/chinese-lab-conducted-extensive-research-on-deadly-bat-viruses-but-there-is-no-evidence-of-accidental-release/2020/04/30/3e5d12a0-8b0d-11ea-9dfd-990f9dcc71fc_story.html}}</ref> ~~and has called for a thorough investigation of the origin of the pandemic and for measures to reduce the risk of future pandemics.~~<ref~~>{{Cite~~ ~~news |last~~name=Ignatius |first=D. |date=April 23, 2020 |title=The world will demand answers on covid-19 until China explains what happened |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-china-can-end-the-covid-19-conspiracy-theories-before-they-get-worse/2020/04/23/4999a93a-8586-11ea-878a-86477a724bdb_story.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shih |first=G. |date=February 10, 2021 |title=As WHO coronavirus mission leaves empty-handed, China claims propaganda win |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/coronavirus-china-who-wuhan-pandemic/2021/02/10/f1751148-6b41-11eb-a66e-e27046e9e898_story.html}}</ref><ref"GormanNYTMarch2021">{{Cite news |last=Gorman |first=J. |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Some Scientists Question W.H.O. Inquiry Into the Coronavirus Pandemic's Origins |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/health/covid-virus-origins.html?searchResultPosition=3}}</ref><ref name="ZimmerNYTJune2021">{{Cite news |last1=Zimmer |first1=C. |last2=Gorman |first2=J. |date=June 7, 2021 |title=Fight Over Covid's Origins Renews Debate on Risks of Lab Work |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/science/covid-lab-leak-wuhan.html?searchResultPosition=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=M. |last2=Kang |first2=D. |date=July 2, 2021 |title=Experts question if WHO should lead pandemic origins probe |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/experts-question-if-who-should-lead-pandemic-origins-probe/2021/07/02/c89bcf08-daf6-11eb-8c87-ad6f27918c78_story.html}}</ref>

Ebright has accused [[NIAID]] director [[Anthony Fauci]], [[NIH]] director [[Francis Collins]] and deputy director [[Lawrence Tabak]] of "lying to the public", about their past and continuous denials of [[NIH]] funding having been utilized for banned [[gain-of-function]] experiments at the [[Wuhan Institute of Virology]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schemmel |first1=Alec |title=NIH letter appears to conflict with Fauci, Collins claims about Wuhan lab |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/nih-letter-conflicts-with-fauci-collins-claims-about-wuhan-lab |access-date=9 November 2021 |date=21 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The repeated claim that Fauci lied to Congress about 'gain-of-function' research |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/10/29/repeated-claim-that-fauci-lied-congress-about-gain-of-function-research/ |access-date=9 November 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist|refs=<ref name="~~biosafety~~BioWeapons">See, for example, the following:

Sources describing his opposition to ~~proliferation of laboratories working on~~ [[biological weapons]] ~~agents~~proliferation:

*{{cite journal |last1=Connell |first1=N. |last2=Ebright |first2=R. H. |year=2002 |title=Bioweapon agents: more access means more risk |journal=Nature |volume=415 |pages=364 |pmid=11807521 |doi=10.1038/415364b |issue=6870 |bibcode=2002Natur.415..364E |doi-access=free}}

* {{Cite news |last=Miller |first=J. |date=February 10, 2004 |title=New Biolabs Stir a Debate Over Secrecy and Safety |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/10/science/new-biolabs-stir-a-debate-over-secrecy-and-safety.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=Shane |first=S. |date=January 24, 2005 |title=Exposure at Germ Lab Reignites a Public Health Debate |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/24/us/exposure-at-germ-lab-reignites-a-public-health-debate.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=Shane |first=S. |date=March 1, 2005 |title=U.S. Germ-Research Policy Is Protested by 758 Scientists |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/us-germresearch-policy-is-protested-by-758-scientists.html}}

Line 57 ⟶ 49:

* {{Cite news |last1=Lipton |first1=E. |last2=Shane |first2=S. |date=August 3, 2008 |title=As biodefense field grows, so may risks |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/world/americas/03iht-anthrax.4.14970686.html}}

Sources describing his support for strengthening of [[biosafety]] and [[biosecurity]] measures:

* {{cite journal |last=Ebright |first=R. H. |year=2012 |title=Mitigate the risks of release |journal=Nature |volume=481 |issue=7381 |pages=257–259 |pmid=22246325 |doi=10.1038/481257a |pmc=7095491}}

* {{Cite web |date=July 16, 2014 |title=Centers for Disease Control Anthrax Lab Incident |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?320417-1/hearing-cdc-anthrax-lab-incident |publisher=C-SPAN}}

* {{Cite news |last1=Grady |first1=D. |last2=McNeil |first2=D. |date=December 26, 2011 |title=Debate Persists on Deadly Flu Made Airborne |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/science/debate-persists-on-deadly-flu-made-airborne.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=Grady |first=D. |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Scientists to Pause Research on Deadly Strain of Bird Flu |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/science/scientists-to-pause-research-on-deadly-strain-of-bird-flu.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=McNeil |first=D. |date=January 25, 2012 |title=Scientist Plays Down Danger of Flu Strain |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/health/wisconsin-scientist-says-h5n1-flu-strain-he-created-is-less-dangerous.html?searchResultPosition=15}}

* {{Cite news |last1=Fausset |first1=R. |last2=McNeil |first2=D. |date=July 13, 2014 |title=After Lapses, C.D.C. Admits a Lax Culture at Labs |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/us/after-lapses-cdc-admits-a-lax-culture-at-labs.html?searchResultPosition=22}}

* {{Cite web |date=July 16, 2014 |title=Centers for Disease Control Anthrax Lab Incident |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?320417-1/hearing-cdc-anthrax-lab-incident |publisher=C-SPAN}}

* {{Cite news |last=Grady |first=D. |date=July 19, 2014 |title=Pathogen Mishaps Rise as Regulators Stay Clear |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/science/pathogen-mishaps-rise-as-labs-proliferate-with-scant-regulation.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=McNeil |first=D. |date=September 24, 2014 |title=White House Issues New Regulations for Dangerous Biological Research |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/science/white-house-issues-new-regulations-for-dangerous-biological-research.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=McNeil |first=D. |date=October 17, 2014 |title=White House to Cut Funding for Risky Biological Study |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/us/white-house-to-cut-funding-for-risky-biological-study.html}}

* {{Cite news |last=McNeil |first=D. |date=December 19, 2017 |title=A Federal Ban on Making Lethal Viruses Is Lifted |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/health/lethal-viruses-nih.html}}

* {{Cite news |last1=Grady |first1=D. |last2=McNeil |first2=D. |date=December 24, 2017 |title=Ebola Sample Is Mishandled at C.D.C. Lab in Latest Error |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/25/health/cdc-ebola-error-in-lab-may-have-exposed-technician-to-virus.html}}</ref>

* {{Cite web |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Revisiting Gain of Function Research: What the Pandemic Taught Us and Where Do We Go From Here |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?522133-1/hearing-virus-research-funding |publisher=C-SPAN}}</ref>

}}