The End of an Era
Remembering Martin
Dr. George R. Martin, a world-renowned connective tissue biologist and co-inventor of Matrigel®, died on Jan. 1 at the age of 91. He played senior roles at the National Institute of Dental Research (now the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) and at the National Institute on Aging.
Martin’s former colleagues and trainees praised his mentorship, insight and contagious love of science. Several of his colleagues commented that his passing marks the “end of an era” in his field.
Martin received a B.S. in chemistry from Colgate University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester. The following year, in 1959, he joined the NIDR laboratory of Dr. Karl Piez.
For the next 30 years, Martin studied connective tissue at NIDCR. He focused first on collagen, the most abundant protein in the body and a major component of skin, muscles, bones and joints. He sought to better understand how collagen abnormalities contribute to human diseases such as Osteogenesis imperfecta (“brittle bone disease”) and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.
After 15 years, he turned his attention to the basement membrane, a thin sheet of collagen and other molecules that separates different cell layers and provides structural support to tissues throughout the body.
A member of Martin’s research team, Dr. Pamela Robey, now an NIDCR senior investigator, co-discovered a protein called laminin in the basement membrane. Scientists now know that laminins are a large family of sugar-coated proteins (glycoproteins) found in all animals. They are critical to basic cellular processes such as the growth and repair of nerve cells and the formation of muscles.
Robey remembers Dr. Martin as “the epitome of a mentor.” She adds: “I will be forever grateful for all that he taught me about doing cutting-edge—but more importantly, meaningful—research.”
Together with fellow NIDCR scientist Dr. Hynda Kleinman, Martin developed Matrigel®, a specialized gel that promotes cell growth on a 3-D surface. Matrigel mimics the natural environment of most mammalian cells.
Today, Matrigel is widely used in labs around the world to investigate complex cell activities and to study cells that were previously impossible to grow. Matrigel has provided new insights into nerve growth, blood vessel formation and stem and cancer cell biology. It is also being used to screen cancer drugs and to develop artificial tissues that mimic organ function.
Reflecting on their time together, Kleinman praised Martin as a significant mentor. “I quickly came to respect [Martin] for his way of doing things, his work ethic and kindness.”
In 1989, Martin became the scientific director of NIA and director of the Gerontology Research Center. In addition to fostering studies on normal aging and age-associated diseases, he championed angiogenesis assays using Matrigel® and better animal models to study prostate cancer. “It was a magical time for all of us who loved science,” recalls Dr. Walter Horton, who worked with him at NIA.
Martin retired from NIA in 1994, then moved to Palo Alto, Calif. to become the first employee of a biomedical research company where he worked for 10 years. There, he applied his expertise in connective tissue biology to develop new therapeutics targeting fibrosis and inflammation.
After returning to Maryland, he continued a physically and mentally active lifestyle. He loved traveling, skiing, playing golf, mountain climbing, discussing current events, and gathering friends for an icy morning dip in Deep Creek Lake. He continued almost daily visits to NIH and the gym until his last illness.
Martin is survived by his wife, whom he met when they were both working at NIH, three children, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.