Issue Two

At 84 years old Herbert Hauptman wonders out loud why anyone would retire because at age 68, when most people begin retirement, the Royal Swedish Academy awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize for Chemistry to him for his outstanding achievements in the development of direct methods for the determination of crystal structure.

As he explains in simple terms what this means he apologizes for not being able to explain it better, "I’m not sure I’m making any sense." His sensitivity to the complexity of his work not being understood by the average person is heart warming.

"We try to figure out molecular structures. We have to determine the structures of molecules so drug companies can make drugs to help us stay healthy. First we need to crystallize the material of interest—drugs, hormones, proteins, etc.—and then bombard the crystal with x-rays. When a crystal is irradiated with x-rays the crystal deflects the x-rays in certain directions so that the radiation can be seen as spots of different intensity—as a photograph. To determine the structure, the phase of each ray that is deflected must also be known." This determination can be carried out by using Hauptman’s so called ‘direct methods’.

"Only in this way can we determine the structure of the molecule and thus relate molecular structure with biological activity." Hauptman continues, "Pharmaceutical companies can then design drugs to improve public health."

It began in 1950 at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. and continued in 1970 when Herbert Hauptman joined the crystallographic group of the medical foundation in Buffalo, New York that today has been re-named, The Hauptman—Woodward Medical Research Institute.

The Nobel Prize is displayed on the mantel in the living room of his home.

"It’s a copy. They gave us three copies and the original. We have the original locked up." Hauptman explains.

"I was teaching my class when Herb called the school to tell me he had won the prize." Edith, his wife, says. "I knew it was important news because he would never call me while I was teaching. After learning that Herb won I ran down the hallway yelling, ‘Herb won the Nobel Prize! Herb won the Nobel Prize!’ All of the teachers came out of their classrooms to see what was going on—and they all started clapping. The principal finally came back and told me, ‘Go home, your husband has won the Nobel Prize!’ It was very exciting. The children were saying, ‘What happened? What happened?’

"The phone was ringing off the hook, I was lucky to get through to Edith." Herbert adds. "I had been swimming at the Y when I received the news."

Hauptman continues his work at the Institute. This year the Institute received a several million dollar federal grant that will be used to develop a molecular and structural biology program.

Is there another prize in this?

"No way—but I will remain around to see this thing through." Hauptman said assuredly.