Max Tishler Award Lectureship
The Max Tishler Award Lectureship at Tufts University honors outstanding scientists whose research has significantly advanced the field of chemistry and its impact on human health.
Dr. Max Tishler (1906-1989)
Dr. Max Tishler was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 30, 1906. An outstanding student in high school, he was awarded a scholarship to Tufts College (now Tufts University). While at Tufts, he met Elizabeth M. Verveer, a freshman in his chemistry laboratory, who became a talented pianist and sculptor. They married in 1934. He earned a BS magna cum laude in Chemistry in 1928. He then went to Harvard, where he received a MA in Chemistry in 1933 and a PhD in organic chemistry (with Kohler) in 1934.
Dr. Tishler joined Merck and Co. in 1937, a career move of impeccable timing as the company had begun shifting from being a supplier of fine chemicals to one that created therapeutic drugs. Dr. Tishler’s impact on Merck and on human health was immediate and enormous. Dr. Tishler’s first assignment involved the synthesis of riboflavin (vitamin B2), which is essential for metabolism. The success of this project had a major impact on human nutrition.
Dr. Tishler was also a pioneer in the area of steroid therapeutics. The synthesis of gram quantities of cortisone by Tishler enabled the discovery that cortisone alleviated the suffering of arthritic patients. This revelation instantly propelled demand for thousands of kilograms of the compound, a grand challenge considering that making even a hundred grams was done at great effort and cost.
By devising novel synthetic routes and manufacturing processes, Dr. Tishler and his Merck colleagues were able to make the large-scale production of cortisone commercially viable, thereby establishing another landmark in chemistry and drug development. Furthermore, the cortisone work had profound consequences as it led to the development of even more potent non-natural steroids such as prednisolone and decadron, setting the stage for modern day drug design.
In 1953, Dr. Tishler was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, an unusual honor for a scientist in industry. He also received recognition through promotions within Merck. In 1957, Dr. Tishler became the first president of the Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories Division of Merck & Co.
Despite being drawn away from research, Dr. Tishler was an interested and involved manager. He cared about the people who worked for him and their families. He was the consummate leader.
In 1962, Dr. Tishler was elected to the Merck board of directors. Under his leadership, Merck researchers continued to flourish and made many advances in medicine and healthcare. In addition to riboflavin and cortisone, therapeutics that emerged under his leadership included other vitamins and steroids, drugs for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, as well as vaccines to counteract disease in poultry and other livestock.
His new position in 1969 as Senior Vice President for Science and Technology took him away from his many personal research projects and the scientists. Missing such involvement, Dr. Tishler left Merck in 1970 and joined the faculty of chemistry at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He was active in the creation of a PhD program in chemistry at Wesleyan and served as a mentor for many students. He served as chair of Wesleyan’s chemistry department, created the annual Peter A. Leermakers Symposium in Chemistry and became University Professor of the Sciences. Even after being granted emeritus status in 1975, he continued to teach and remained active in research.
Dr. Tishler was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1987. It was presented by President Reagan and the citation described Dr. Tishler as “a giant on the chemical scene these past fifty years… The importance of Dr. Tishler’s specific contributions to the nation’s health can scarcely be exaggerated.” Max Tishler passed away on March 18, 1989 in Middletown, Connecticut. The Max Tishler Award Lecture is made possible by the munificence of the Tishler family.
Max Tishler Award Lectureship Recipients
- 2025: Alanna Schepartz
- 2024: James A. Wells
- 2018: Frances H. Arnold
- 2017: Bonnie L. Bassler
- 2016: Donald E. Ingber
- 2015: K. Barry Sharpless
- 2013: Roderick MacKinnon
- 2012: Laura Kiessling
- 2010: Ronald Breslow
- 2009: David A. Tirrell
- 2008: Leroy Hood
- 2007: Steven Boxer
- 2006: George Whitesides