Leonard P. Freedman, PhD
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Professor
Vice Dean for Research, Jefferson Medical College
Mailing Address
1025 Walnut Street, 100 College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
United States
Contact Information
Phone: 215-955-2012
leonard.freedman@jefferson.edu
Education:
Ph.D. University of Rochester, Molecular Genetics, 1985
B.A. Kalamazoo College, Biology, 1980
Biography:
Leonard P. Freedman, Ph.D. is Vice Dean for Research and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University. As Vice Dean, Dr. Freedman is responsible for advancing the medical college's research mission by developing a clear, coordinated strategy that drives the effective integration of the clinical/educational expertise on campus with Jefferson's basic and clinical research faculty, as well as initiate strategic alliances with various medical centers, universities and other research entities, such as the DHSA and the DVICTS CTSA.
Dr. Freedman most recently served as vice president of Discovery for Women's Health and Musculoskeletal Therapies at Wyeth Research. There he directed a group of 125 scientists charged with the discovery of new chemical and bio-therapeutic entities in women's health. Prior to his role at Wyeth, he was the executive director for the Department of Molecular Endocrinology at Merck Research Labs, as well as adjunct professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Freedman is a recognized leader in the field of nuclear hormone receptors. Early in his career he joined the laboratory of Dr. Keith Yamamoto, one of the world's leading molecular endocrinologists and focused his research on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which glucocorticoid hormones regulate gene transcription. Dr. Freedman subsequently joined the faculty in Cell Biology & Genetics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Medical College, where he rose to tenured Full Professor. Dr. Freedman's lab studied the biological roles of vitamin D3 and retinoid receptors in myeloid cells in the context of growth inhibition and differentiation. His lab also defined important new mechanisms by which nuclear receptors mediate transcriptional regulation.
Dr. Freedman has received several research awards, including the Boyer Research Award for Biomedical Research, and was the recipient of numerous grants, including a MERIT award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. He was also the 2002 recipient of the Ernst Oppenheimer Award from The Endocrine Society.
Dr. Freedman earned a bachelor of arts degree in Biology from Kalamazoo College, and his master of science and Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Rochester. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Endocrine Society, American Society of Bone and Mineral Research and the New York Academy of Science. He has published extensively and served on numerous scientific review panels. Dr. Freedman has served on the editorial board of Molecular Endocrinology, Endocrinology and Endocrine Reviews, and has also been an editor of Molecular and Cellular Biology for the past eight years.