Monday, April 1, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Hector DeLuca, whose pioneering research on vitamins D and A has led to disease treatment breakthroughs and better understanding of how the human body works, will receive the 1996 Nevada Medal on April 19.
The Nevada Medal was founded nine years ago by Nevada Bell and the Desert Research Institute, a nonprofit division of the University and Community College System of Nevada.
Gov. Bob Miller will present DeLuca with a pure silver medallion and a $5,000 cash award underwritten by Nevada Bell shareholders.
DeLuca's discoveries have opened avenues of research into bone diseases, endocrine processes and the role of vitamins D and A in influencing gene expression, human reproduction and development. His current work is addressing potential disease treatment.
He identified a key vitamin-derived hormone regarded as a landmark contribution to studies of steroids and biochemical processes.
DeLuca's research has yielded practical benefits. His studies have advanced treatment of calcium disorders such as osteoporosis, hypoparathyroidism, renal osteodystorphy and vitamin D-resistant rickets.
He had a major role in the commercial introduction of natural and synthetic hormones for treatment of metabolic bone disease and skin disease, such as psoriasis.
DeLuca is biochemistry chairman at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
He has published nearly 1,000 scientific papers and holds all or part of more than 150 U.S. patents. He has received more than 20 international honors and awards.
DeLuca holds the Harry Steenbock professorship, named after the Wisconsin scientist who discovered in 1924 that vitamin D could cure rickets and that exposing food to ultraviolet light, part of sunshine, could increase the body's content of vitamin D.
He will present a lecture on his work at the University of Nevada, Reno on April 18, followed by a lecture at UNLV on April 19. The lectures are free and open to the public.
The awards dinner is April 19 at Caesars Palace.
DeLuca
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