Leonard P. Freedman, PhD

Leonard P. Freedman

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.

RECENT PRESS

Health experts to address issues in education, research, practice
January 26, 2012--DHSA will hold its inaugural Global Health Symposium on Saturday, Feb. 4 at CCHS. The program will focus on education, research and practice, with presentations on topics ranging from refugee health clinics and relief medicine to anthropological approaches to the study of global health.
Christiana Care issues a call to men to prevent domestic violence
January 24, 2012--Christiana Care, a National Community Center of Excellence in Women's Health, has been working for years to help women who are victims of domestic violence at an annual event that offers resources, education and support.
After Holiday Eating Marathon, Jefferson Dietitian Offers 10 Tips to Get Back on Track and Kick Start New Year's Weight Loss Resolution
January 4, 2012--Celebrating the New Year goes hand-in-hand with creating resolutions to get healthy and trim - especially after weeks of holiday marathon eating. Dietitian Emily Rubin, R.D., L.D., with the Division of Gastroenterology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, says you can stay committed to being healthy and fit by following these 10 tips.
Procedure saves teen after rare carotid trauma
January 4, 2012--Neurointerventionalist Gregg Zoarski, M.D.'s recent surgical grand rounds lecture on carotid artery injuries focused on how to repair traumatic injuries to these vital vessels that supply blood to the brain.
Medical students delighted with Delaware branch campus Christiana Care is participating in Jefferson Medical College’s Delaware Branch Campus program, underscoring the transformative role the health system plays in medical education.
December 23, 2011--This achievement specifically spotlights our core competency in providing clinical education to third- and fourth-year medical students. Christiana Care has a long-standing relationship in providing first-rate medical education to students from Jefferson, one of the country's top-rated medical collleges.
Healthy Kids Delaware (HKD) Network celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month.
December 22, 2011--Earlier this month the Healthy Kids Delaware (HKD) network celebrated its one-year anniversary. The Healthy Kids Delaware network has been working to address health and wellness needs of children throughout New Castle County.
Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice
December 14, 2011--Registration is now open for Jefferson InterProfessional Education Center's (JCIPE) 2012 conference: Interprofessional Care for the 21st Century: Redefining Education and Practice. The conference will be held on May 18-19, 2012 at Dorrance H. Hamilton Building, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. The purpose of this conference is to showcase scholarly work and works in progress advancing interprofessional education and/or practice. This conference reflects on innovative implementation and evaluation strategies of the interprofessional competencies.
Nemours participates in Partnership for a Healthier America Summit
December 8, 2011--The Partnership, of which Nemours is a founding member, has a mission of supporting First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign by working with the private sector to fight childhood obesity. The theme that emerged at the summit, a gathering of leaders from business and industry, academia, nonprofits and government, was: "Make the healthy choice the easy choice."
DHSA plans workshop on collaborative education for clinicians and scientists
December 8, 2011--DHSA will host "Creating Clinical and Research Teams for the Future: Workshop on Collaborative Education for Clinicians and Scientists" on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at the Ammon Education Center of Christiana Hospital. This workshop focuses on developing skills to write educational grants. The program will include information on how to obtain educational grant funding, set goals and evaluate an educational program, and develop an application for the DHSA Education Pilot Award.