NIH Remembers Jacobson
Dr. Arthur E. Jacobson passed peacefully on November 9 at the age of 97. He was a consultant and collaborator in the Drug Design and Synthesis Section of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for 24 years and in civil service in the intramural research programs at NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and NIDA during the preceding 37 years.
Jacobson attended the Bronx High School of Science and Fordham University College of Pharmacy. He earned his B.S. in 1949 with honors, an M.S. in pharmaceutical chemistry (1952) and a second M.S. in organic chemistry (1954) from Rutgers University before being drafted into the army during the Korean War.
Jacobson served from 1954-1956 in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Section of the Army Chemical Center in Edgewood, Md., and returned to Rutgers where he earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry (1960). He conducted postdoctoral work in the Biochemistry Department of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University.
In 1962, Jacobson joined Dr. Everette May’s medicinal chemistry group in NIDDK as a research chemist studying the structure and function of various drugs, especially the 6,7-benzomorphans and the 5-phenylmorphans, classes of antinociceptives that are still being explored.
Jacobson had a long, notable association with the College (formerly, Committee) on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) from its tenure as a Committee of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, then as a founding member of the CPDD as it transformed into a membership organization and as a World Health Organization collaborating center for research and training in the field of drug dependence.
He was an internationally recognized expert in used/misused drugs, and he acted as the biological coordinator and/or chair of the Drug Evaluation Committee of the CPDD from 1976-2000. This committee included researchers from universities nationwide who evaluated the physical dependence, potential and abuse liability of opioids and psychotropic drugs. Jacobson received the J. Michael Morrison Award from the CPDD in 1990 for his outstanding contributions in scientific administration related to substance use disorders.
After his retirement in 2001 as deputy chief of the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry at NIDDK, Jacobson returned to NIH in the Drug Design and Synthesis Section (DDSS) of NIDA, collaborating with Dr. Kenner Rice, with whom he worked for more than 50 years. During his career, he authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers, patents and pending applications, scientific reviews and book chapters. He also helped train more than 100 postdoctoral scientists.
“Art was an exceptional scientist, colleague, counselor and role model. He was a veteran who served his country, a chemist who served his profession, an award-winning scientist who served his field,” said NIDA staff scientist Dr. Agnieszka Sulima.
“Art had a rare gift for listening and supporting others with kindness and truth,” said Rice. “His honest opinions and constructive critiques helped guide our team forward. His extensive knowledge advanced our program. Art will be deeply missed by all of us.”