Mourning the Loss of Dr. John S. Blanchard

Einstein learned on Friday, November 5, that John Blanchard, Ph.D., a dear colleague and friend, had died earlier in the day. The news came as a shock to many of us on campus who knew and worked with John. He was 67 and looking forward to continued service to Einstein as professor emeritus.

On his faculty profile page, John, the Dan Danciger Professor of Biochemistry at Einstein, described his research interests as follows:

“The treatment of bacterial infections with antibiotics is being severely compromised by the rapid development and dissemination of drug resistance and has become of significant clinical concern. Through a combination of recombinant DNA methods, protein purification, kinetic and chemical mechanistic analysis and three-dimensional structural description, we are developing several enzymes into validated targets for subsequent inhibitor, and potential drug design.”

Life-Saving Discovery

In 2009, John, identified a promising new treatment for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), a dangerous form of the disease caused by strains of TB bacteria that have become resistant to virtually all antibiotics. By carefully characterizing of the enzymes that cause drug resistance in TB, John discovered that a combination of two drugs (clavulanate and meropenem) was highly effective in halting the growth of XDR-TB in laboratory culture.

Following the publication of his paper, his drug combination was used in treating several patients with XDR-TB and saved their lives. The two drugs then entered formal trials in humans in South Africa and Belgium to more fully evaluate their dual-powered efficacy and effectiveness.

“At John’s request, Einstein elected not to patent his discovery because he didn’t want to impede its use in Africa where both multi-drug resistant and XDR-TB remain serious health risks,” recalled Edward R. Burns, executive dean. “He was a pioneering enzymologist with a huge heart.”

That same selflessness led John to donate the $5,000 check he would have received as recipient of the 2017 Marshall S. Horwitz, M.D., Faculty Prize for Research Excellence to Einstein’s Graduate Programs in the Biomedical Sciences, to support our students. His ironic title for his award lecture was “Thirty-Seven Years of Science at Einstein: Failing to Achieve Irrelevance.”

Dr. Blanchard accepts the Marshall S. Horwitz, M.D., Faculty Prize for Research Excellence from then dean Allen M. Spiegel, M.D.

“John was a larger-than-life scientist who captivated an audience with his brilliance and quick-wit,” said close colleague and friend William R. Jacobs, Jr., Ph.D., the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Chair of Microbiology and Immunology at Einstein, who worked with John in tackling XDR-TB. “We initially started working together on peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and John was instrumental in discovering the activity of the target of Isoniazid. I will miss his laughter, his unrivaled excellence in enzymology, and our friendship.”

Five Dedicated Decades at Einstein

John arrived at the College of Medicine in 1979, as an NIH postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Sasha Englard, Ph.D. After four years, he joined our faculty as an assistant professor and rose through the ranks, earning full professor status in 1993.

He published nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers and over 25 book chapters and review articles, and held six patents for various findings, along with four provisional patents.

John also was active in training many Ph.D. students toward productive careers. He initially taught Intermediate Biochemistry I: On Enzyme Kinetics and Enzyme Mechanisms, and had more recently taught Mechanisms of Enzyme Drug Targets: on the Mechanisms of Action of Drugs and Molecular Approaches to Drug Action and Design.

His dedication to training future scientists was evident on his profile page as well, where he noted:

John Blanchard with former graduate student Luiz Carvalho, who is currently a senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute, in London.

“The projects described above are eminently suitable for all levels of scientific trainees. Although the laboratory today has a preponderance of postdoctoral fellows, and a single graduate student, summer undergraduate students have participated in the research program and been co-authors in a number of published works. Undergraduate students with an interest in biological chemistry, and a strong background in organic and physical chemistry, would be especially qualified to participate in the research program.”

In fact, John’s devotion to students and postdocs included serving as faculty advisor to the Student Journal Club from 1985 to 1987, as well as director of Einstein’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program from 1991 to 1996.

“John often mentioned that his Ph.D. trainees were his most important contribution to science,” recalled Vern Schramm, Ph.D., a long-time friend and colleague who is professor of biochemistry and holder of the Ruth Merns Chair in in that department. “His trainees became lifelong friends of John as he guided them into productive careers.”

He also served his colleagues, organizing and leading the chemical biology facility, and playing a key role on many committees serving our institution, including on the faculty senate budget committee and making recommendations for faculty benefits.

“That included working closely with our benefits department to represent the best interests of young faculty who needed advice on how to plan for retirement that will be decades away,” said Ed Burns.

“Since my return to the College of Medicine, I found John to be a trusted advisor, whose dedication to Einstein was steadfast, and who would take tough stands where he believed doing so would make the College of Medicine stronger,” said Gordon F. Tomaselli, Einstein’s Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean.

Bill Jacobs agreed, noting, “John was highly devoted to Einstein and was constantly thinking of ways to improve our institution.”

A Community in Shock; Paying Respects

Although an academic, John was known and loved by individuals throughout the Einstein campus. As news of his death began to reach various members of our campus community, many shared the same refrain of disbelief and dismay. Staff members from departments including academic appointments, the office of biotechnology and business development, security, and human resources all recalled his sense of humor and caring ways.

John was born in Waterbury, CT on February 20, 1954, and grew up in Chesire and New Haven, CT. He was known to be a talented athlete who excelled at swimming, tennis, and golf. He also enjoyed hockey, playing in an amateur league in Pelham. He received his bachelor’s degree at Lake Forest College, in Illinois and earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin/Madison in the laboratory of W.W. Cleland. He then moved east to the Bronx for his postdoctoral training and remained at Einstein for 42 years.

John leaves his wife Kim, children Ginny and Charlie, brother Scott, and sister-in-law Jenny. Our sincerest condolences to the entire Blanchard family.

An informal memorial service will be held for John this Friday, November 12, at 5 p.m., at the Pelham Funeral Home, located at 64 Lincoln Avenue. It will follow a celebration of life at the same location, from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to the Pelham Education Foundation.

If you wish to share a memory of John or offer condolences, please click on Leave a Remembrance.

Posted on: Thursday, November 11, 2021

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