NIH Mourns the Passing of Geneticist Sly
Dr. William S. Sly, an internationally known physician and scientist, and professor emeritus of biochemistry and molecular biology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, died on May 31. He was 92.
Sly was perhaps best known for his work on the rare genetic disease that now bears his name, Sly syndrome, also called mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS-VII). Sly syndrome can cause bone defects, developmental delays and intellectual disability, and premature death. His research team described the first patient with the disease, and later he helped develop an FDA-approved treatment.
After earning his undergraduate and medical degrees from SLU, Sly trained in internal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. From 1959 – 1963, Sly conducted research at the then-named National Heart Institute, working under Dr. Roy Vagelos and Dr. Earl Stadtman, who were pioneers in enzymology and biochemistry, and Dr. Marshall Nirenberg.
Throughout his career, Sly investigated causes and possible treatments for MPS diseases, which cause people to have physical and intellectual impairments and behavioral problems that worsen with age. Sly’s research into the disease paved the way for an effective enzyme therapy treatment that dramatically changes the progression of some common MPS disorders.
Sly also gained attention for his work in a forensic case involving a “murder mystery.” While watching an episode of television’s “Unsolved Mysteries” involving a woman charged with poisoning her son, Sly noted that the type of urine test used to convict her could not rule out an inherited metabolic disorder with similar symptoms to poisoning. On a hunch, Sly and his colleague, the late Dr. James Shoemaker, independently conducted more tests, and the results pointed conclusively to a genetic disease. Sly presented this new evidence to the prosecution and, largely thanks to the analysis, the charges were dismissed.
Sly was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and won numerous awards during his lengthy career. He authored more than 350 peer-reviewed journal articles and co-authored “The Molecular and Metabolic Bases of Inherited Disease.”
Sly is survived by his wife of 64 years, Peggy Sly, seven children, 26 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Bill’s name to:
The William S. Sly MD Centennial Chair in Biochemistry at the St. Louis University School of Medicine (Donations should specify the William. S. Sly chair fund).
National MPS Society, an organization that provides education, research funding, advocacy and direct support to patients and families living with mucopolysaccharidosis.