In Memory of Prof. Richard A. Lerner

Abstract

Dear Reader,

This Special Issue has been put together to honor the life and work of Prof. Richard A. Lerner (August 28, 1938–December 2, 2021), whose visionary presidential leadership and guidance for over a quarter century (1987–2012) catapulted The Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, California and Jupiter, Florida) into a powerhouse at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine. Following is a colorful assortment of twenty contributions that collectively paint a picture of a man who intuitively and ingeniously blended organic chemistry and immunology to arrive at new molecular compositions and concepts that have defined contemporary small and large-molecule drug discovery.

Prof. Lerner's mix of creativity, fearlessness, and unboundedness conceived and conceptualized inventions like catalytic antibodies, antibody libraries, and DNA-encoded small molecule libraries. Several articles in this Special Issue pay tribute to these transformative discoveries, depicted in the cover image. Other articles add additional facets to the theme of bioinspired chemistry. Sprinkled in are numerous anecdotes of Prof. Lerner's rebellious and humorous nature that made him, as his friend and presidential successor at Scripps Research, Prof. Peter G. Schultz, notes, “one of a kind […] who defied boundaries and lived life to its fullest.”

Above all, Prof. Lerner was an enabler of ideas who recruited, protected and connected brilliant minds at every academic level at The Scripps Research Institute (now Scripps Research). He cherished their discoveries at least as much as his own, corroborated by one of his mentees, Prof. Benjamin F. Cravatt, who writes in his contribution, “I have never met someone so accomplished who took their greatest joy in the accomplishments of others.” Prof. Lerner's infectious energy and enthusiasm catalyzed the careers of graduate students, postdocs, and faculty on both the Pacific and Atlantic campuses of Scripps Research, as well as beyond the United States, as reflected here by contributions from Israel, Korea, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Many of us have come together for this Special Issue as a tribute to the unconventional explorer, builder, and leader who transformed and empowered our thinking and doing. We are fortunate to have crossed paths with him.

Since the Israel Journal of Chemistry is the official Journal of the Israel Chemical Society (ICS), we welcome the recently established ICS-Lerner Prize and Lectureship that commemorates the legacy of Prof. Richard A. Lerner. This international Prize has become possible based on a $100 K endowment fund, which secures the Prize perpetually. All ICS members thank and congratulate the donors, Professors Phil S. Baran, Benjamin F. Cravatt, Jeffery W. Kelly, Chi-Huey Wong, Jin-Quan Yu, and Dr. Phillip Frost. The Organic Chemistry Section of the ICS will handle the ICS-Lerner Prize annually, planning to announce the first winner in January 2024 and hold the prize ceremony and lecture a few months later.

Enjoy the reading and the memories.