Peter Agre (born January 30, 1949) is an American biologist who was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (which he shared with Roderick MacKinnon) for his discovery of aquaporins.

Born in Northfield, Minnesota, he received his B.A. from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota and his M.D. in 1974 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently Vice Chancellor of Duke University's Medical School.

Agre is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Two of his brothers are also physicians and one of them is also an Eagle Scout. Agre and Dudley R. Herschbach are two known Eagle Scouts who are also Nobel Prize recipients, both for chemistry.

He also enjoys cross-country skiing and has participated in the Vasaloppet ski race.

Dr. Agre is known among science students for his humanity and humility. Perhaps this originates from the grade of "D" Agre received in his first chemistry class, despite having a father who was a chemistry professor. Or maybe from the fact his prize-winning research was originally an investigation of the molecular identity of the human blood Rh_factor, and his initial discovery of aquaporins was pure serendipity.

References

External links

• Johns Hopkins Media Story on his Nobel prize
• Nobel citation
• Nobel laureate: Gov't, science research clash post Sept. 11 The Daily Cardinal
• Webpage at Duke
• Coverage of October 21, 2005 speech by The Chronicle, Duke's student newspaper

Nobel Prize in Chemistry winners | 1949 births | Living people | Duke University | Eagle Scouts | Distinguished Eagle Scouts | Johns Hopkins University faculty

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