UMC Propels Medical Pioneer's Vision

LYNNE JETER

UMC Propels Medical Pioneer's Vision

Arthur C. Guyton Research Center Now Open

The recent dedication of the Arthur C. Guyton Research Center was a fitting tribute to the noted Mississippi scientist's celebrated career.

"Dr. Guyton was a giant, and his legacy inspires us to move forward to make the world a healthier and stronger place through our programs of research," said Dan Jones, MD, vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and former president of the American Medical Association. He pointed out that Guyton's world-renowned book, Textbook of Medical Physiology, now in its 11th printing, is the most widely used physiology text in medical schools.

Guyton, who died April 3, 2003, "is best known for his textbook, but he provides a wonderful example to today's faculty of excellence in research, teaching and mentorship," said Jones, noting that all of Guyton's 10 children are celebrated physicians.

The 191,000-square-foot, eight-story facility houses the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular-Renal Research.

One of Guyton's great legacies "is that he created an atmosphere of scholarship, discovery and research at the medical center that was attractive to many other people outside Mississippi," said John Hall, MD, chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and former postdoctoral fellow of Guyton. "He was a great ambassador for Mississippi."

Solving the Riddle


In the last magazine interview before his death, Guyton explained his relentless pursuit of solving the mystery of hypertension, the genesis of cardiovascular research at UMC.

"A tremendous amount of work began around 1920 to develop technology for physiological research," Guyton explained. "Until 1950, we saw both new research in physiology itself and also in the technology for doing that research. By 1960, most of the technology for doing the physical types of physiological research was fairly well completed. Even though the techniques had been worked out fairly well, they hadn't been applied to animals and humans when I began intensive research.

"We used various physical and chemical techniques to study the changes in the physical functions of the different parts of the body and studied many of the changes in the chemical functions in the body. In the last 30 years, the physical techniques relative to the function of the body, like the physics of muscle action and the physics of heart contraction, have all been rather well worked out and there's not very much new research being done in those particular areas. But there's still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done, both in the basic chemistry of the body, especially the physical chemistry of the body, and the nuclear chemistry of the body."
David Dzielak, PhD, associate vice chancellor for research at UMC, said Guyton's integrative physiology approach was based on asking a very simple but elegant question: what is the contribution of each of the multiple organ systems in the body to the overall regulation of blood pressure?

Guyton, whose accomplishments were even more impressive because he had been limited to a wheelchair and crutches since 1947 as a result of paralysis of his right leg and shoulder (from polio he contracted as a surgical resident at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1946), authored Textbook in 1957 and updated the book every five years, writing the first seven or eight editions solo. (Hall co-authored the last several editions.) Also, Guyton received a presidential citation for his innovative designs to make life easier for the handicapped—a special leg brace, a hoist for moving patients, and a motorized wheelchair controlled by an electric joystick.

A Mentor's Mentor


In addition to Guyton's international recognition with more than 600 research papers published, his impact on researchers and clinicians was immeasurable around the globe.

"We've had 29 chairs of basic and clinical science departments trained through this program," Hall said. "Many of us owe a large part of our careers to Dr. Guyton's mentorship."

Jones called Guyton "the premiere cardiovascular-disease physiologist in the 20th century."

"His research team helped us understand some of the basic, fundamental causes for hypertension, particularly the role of sodium and the work of the kidneys in regulating blood pressure," he said. "This research team … has led us to understand the relationship between body weight and blood pressure."

Guyton had an eye for recruiting talent to Mississippi. For example, he lured John D. Bower, MD, from Richmond, Va., in 1965 after learning Bower knew how to build and run an artificial kidney machine. In Jackson, Bower established Kidney Care, a non-profit organization that morphed into the nation's leading provider of dialysis care. He then funneled millions of dollars into The Bower Foundation for healthcare-related initiatives aiding Mississippi.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Dr. Guyton," admitted Bower. "He was a remarkable force, and his research helped save countless lives. We did a lot of good work because of him."

Behind the Window Dressing


Beyond the concrete, glass and steel is the opportunity for cutting-edge research in areas where Mississippi has the dubious distinction of leading the nation: cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease.

"What better place to establish world-class research centers in cardiovascular diseases, obesity and metabolic disorders than in Mississippi? We're a living laboratory for these diseases," said Hall. "From that standpoint, the discoveries that result from research at UMC will not only benefit Mississippians, but all people."

Other vital areas of research include cancer and neuroscience.

"This building will provide space for expansion of research in these targeted areas and will be an attractive vehicle for recruiting the best and brightest to our medical center," said Hall. "You really need state-of-the-art facilities to attract the best. We have that."

Hall estimated for every $1 invested in research, the medical center receives $3 to $4 in funds outside the institution.

"That doesn't include other benefits, such as jobs," he said. "Research is a high priority for our institution, and we appreciate Dr. Jones' and Dr. Conerly's vision and commitment to building this outstanding research building."