Pert, Candace B. (1946–)

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Pert, Candace B. (1946–)

American medical researcher. Name variations: Candace Beebe; Candace Beebe Pert; Candace Ruff. Born Candace Dorinda Beebe, June 26, 1946, in New York, NY; dau. of Robert and Mildred Beebe (court clerk); studied English at Hofstra University; Bryn Mawr, BS in chemistry and psychology; Johns Hopkins University, PhD, 1974; m. Agu Pert (Estonian scientist), 1966 (div. 1982); m. Michael Ruff (research partner), 1986; children: (1st m.) 3.

Began looking for opiate receptor while studying with brain chemistry expert Solomon Snyder at Johns Hopkins (1970); proved that opiate receptors exist (Sept 1972); joined National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD (1975), where she headed her own laboratory, then became chief of brain biochemistry within the clinical neuroscience branch (1983), the only female chief; studied peptides; left NIMH to start own research company (1987); discovered that CD-4 receptor on immune system cells appear in brain; with Michael Ruff, researched and published results (1986) on Peptide T; was research professor at Georgetown University Medical Center; received Arthur S. Fleming Award for outstanding government service (1978) and Kilby Award (1993).

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