Richard Wolfenden

For the English physician and oceanographer, see Richard Norris Wolfenden.

Richard Wolfenden
Born(1935-05-17)17 May 1935
Oxford, England[1]
Died22 October 2025(2025-10-22) (aged 90)
EducationPrinceton University (A.B.), Oxford University, Rockefeller University (Ph.D.)
Known forEnzyme kinetics
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Richard Vance Wolfenden NAS AAA&S (17 May 1935 – 22 October 2025) was a professor of chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[2][3] He was both elected to the National Academy of Sciences[4] and appointed as Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2002.[5] His research involved the kinetics of enzymatic reactions,[2][6] and his laboratory has made significant contributions to the understanding of catalytic rate enhancements.[7]

Early life and education

Wolfenden was born to John Hulton Wolfenden[8] and Josephine Vance Wolfenden. He spent part of his childhood in Oxford, England, until his family was relocated during WWII for his father to serve as a Principal Scientific Officer for the British Commonwealth in Washington, D.C.[9] In 1947, his family moved to Hanover, N.H. when his father joined to Department of Chemistry at Dartmouth College.[10]

Wolfenden earned his A.B. in chemistry from Princeton University in 1956, after completing a senior thesis titled "Metabolism of Cobalt and Vitamin B12 in Rats."[11] He then received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in animal physiology[12] from Exeter College, University of Oxford.[13]

He earned his Ph.D. from the Rockefeller University in 1964 (then known as the Rockefeller Institute) in biochemistry.[2] His dissertation was titled “Some Characteristics Of The Linkage Of Amino Acids To Soluble-RNA.”[14]

Career

Wolfenden initially taught at Princeton University, but in 1970 he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina as associate professor of biochemistry.[15] He became full professor in 1973,[16] and was later named the Alumni Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics[15] in the School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the department of chemistry.[17] Wolfenden was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2002.[18] The research from Wolfenden's laboratory contributed to the development of ACE inhibitors, which is used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure.[15]

Death

Wolfenden died on 22 October 2025, at the age of 90.[19]

References

  1. ^ Who's who in the South and Southwest. Marquis Who's Who. October 1984. ISBN 9780837908199.
  2. ^ a b c "Richard Wolfenden Faculty Page". Department of Chemistry/UNC Chapel Hill. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  3. ^ "Richard Wolfenden, Biochemistry and Biophysics". The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  4. ^ Taylor, Edith (1 May 2002). "National Academy of Sciences Elects New Members and Associates". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Double honors: UNC scientist appointed to two prestigious national societies". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  6. ^ Radzicka, Anna; Wolfenden, Richard (6 January 1995). "A Proficient Enzyme". Science. 267 (5194): 90–93. doi:10.1126/science.7809611. ISSN 0036-8075.
  7. ^ "Enzyme importance reinforced". Scientist Live, Setform Limited. 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  8. ^ "John H. Wolfenden *25 | Princeton Alumni Weekly". paw.princeton.edu. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  9. ^ "The Rectors and Fellows of Exeter College, Oxford 1901-2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2024.
  10. ^ "The John H. Wolfenden Teaching Prize | Department of Chemistry". chemistry.dartmouth.edu. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  11. ^ Wolfenden, Richard Vance (1956). "Metabolism of Cobalt and Vitamin B12 in Rats".
  12. ^ "Register 2010" (PDF). Exeter college association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Celebrated researcher Richard Wolfenden to explain how enzymes make life thrive - KU News". archive.news.ku.edu. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  14. ^ WOLFENDEN, J. R. V. (1964). Some Characteristics Of The Linkage Of Amino Acids To Soluble-rna (Order No. 6702323). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (302165867).
  15. ^ a b c By (4 December 2008). "Without enzymes, biological reaction essential to life takes 2.3 billion years: UNC study". Biochemistry and Biophysics. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  16. ^ Lynch, Brendan (2 September 2009). "Celebrated researcher Richard Wolfenden to explain how enzymes make life thrive". The University of Kansas. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  17. ^ By (3 June 2015). "New evidence emerges on the origins of life on Earth". Biochemistry and Biophysics. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Richard Vance Wolfenden". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Richard Vance Wolfenden Obituary October 22, 2025". Endswell. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
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