NCI Mourns Passing of Bustin
NIH Scientist Emeritus Dr. Michael Bustin passed away on Aug. 24. He was a pioneering scientist and a much respected and well-liked member of NIH’s community.
Bustin was a senior investigator at NIH’s National Cancer Institute. He studied the role of chromosomal proteins in chromatin function, epigenetic regulation, development and disease.
“Michael was my colleague for over 40 years. While we worked in different fields, his critical thinking and suggestions positively influenced my research and that of all PIs who worked with him,” said Dr. Frank Gonzalez, a senior investigator in NCI’s Cancer Innovation Laboratory. “I miss him dearly.”
Born in Bucharest, Romania in 1937, Bustin emigrated after World War II and served in the Israeli armed forces before embarking on an extraordinary scientific career. He earned his B.Sc. in chemistry from the University of Denver and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by postdoctoral training at Rockefeller University and the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Bustin first joined NCI in 1975 and became a senior investigator in the Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and then the Laboratory of Metabolism, where he led influential studies for decades before retiring in 2022.
He also held academic appointments, including serving at Georgetown University and later as a visiting professor at Tel Aviv University. During his career, he published more than 275 papers and mentored numerous scientists who went on to make important contributions of their own.
Bustin will be remembered for his scientific rigor, generosity as a mentor and unwavering passion for discovery. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy in molecular biology and the chromatin field.