carnosine consortium

With sadness we were informed that Alexander Boldyrev has passed away on March 2^nd, 2012. He was a true inspirer and ‘godfather’ in the scientific field of carnosine research.

 A. Boldyrev was born in Arkhangelsk (Russian Federation) in 1940 and began working at the Department of Biochemistry in Moscow State University more than 50 years ago, and during that time went a long way from laboratory assistant to professor. Over the years, A.A. Boldyrev conducted a systematic study of the biological role of histidine-containing natural dipeptides and did a lot to develop these studies started by the founder of the Department of Biochemistry, academician S. Severin. A.A. Boldyrev was the author of several monographs on the analysis of the role of histidine-containing dipeptides in animal and human tissues. He initiated and successfully developed the use of carnosine as an effective pharmacological drug. A.A. Boldyrev managed to unite separate groups of domestic and foreign scholars who studied carnosine, and was the organizer of two international conferences on this issue.  He was a prominent specialist in the field of neurochemistry and authored over 400 papers in Russian and international journals. A.A. Boldyrev and his research team investigated the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress in brain, described the natural mechanisms affecting the development of stroke. A.A. Boldyrev was the author of several textbooks, manuals and original courses in the field of biochemistry, and gave lectures at Moscow State University, as well as at universities in the UK, Japan, and the United States. A.A. Boldyrev was a member of the Dissertation Council of Moscow State University, a member of the editorial boards of many national and international journals. A.A. Boldyrev was a winner of Gulevich (1968) and M.V. Lomonosov (2010) Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Honored Scientist of Russia (2001) and Honorary Professor of Moscow State University (2008).

AA Boldyrev has trained a large school of biochemists and neuroscientists. He was always distinguished by irrepressible energy, astonishing friendliness, ability to clearly and simply explain even the most complex problems, and enthusiasm, which enabled him to engage students and staff for their work.

Left: Alexander Boldyrev showing a flask, which he kept at his office and which contains a carnosine sample prepared over a century ago by Vladimir Gulevitch, the Russian discoverer of carnosine.

Middle and right: Alexander Boldyrev at the 2^nd International Congress on Carnosine in Ghent, July 2011, which he organized. His final words to close the congress were: “These days have been a real feast to me!”