Don't miss the 2004 Porter lecture !

Who We Are

The Keith R. Porter Endowment for Cell Biology is dedicated to the support of communication and education in the field of Cell Biology. The Endowment was founded in 1981 by Mary A. Bonneville and Lee D. Peachey, two of Keith Porter's early students at Rockefeller. Their goal was to recognize Porter's unique contributions both to the field of cell biology and to the training and careers of many young scientists. The Endowment was set up on July 11, 1983 as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, it is exempt from paying taxes, and contributions to the Endowment from individuals are tax deductible from personal income tax. To maintain this status, the Endowment must derive a certain fraction of its income from public donations. The Endowment is managed by a Board of Trustees, presently consisting of cell biologists Lee Peachey, Clara Franzini-Armstrong, Thoru Pederson, J. Richard McIntosh, Robert D. Goldman, Mary Bekerle, and Ted Salmon. Founding Trustee Mary Bonneville is Trustee Emerita for life.

Since 1982 the Endowment has sponsored and supported its Keith Porter Lecture at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology. These lectures have been given by an outstanding line of distinguished cell biologists and are a major event at these meetings. Most of these lectures have been video taped and these tapes are available on loan from the ASCB, or copies can be purchased from the Endowment. As one way to document and preserve the early history of cell biology, several historical tapes, including interviews with early cell biologists, have been produced by the Endowment. These also are available from the Endowment. At the time of Keith Porter's death in 1997, most of his scientific papers, negatives, and other materials were located at the University of Colorado and the University of Pennsylvania. His private papers were left in the care of Lee Peachey, a Trustee of the Endowment. To preserve this valuable collection of materials, and to make it available to scholars of science for the future, the Endowment has established two Archives, one at the University of Colorado and a second at the University of Maryland. Eventually all of the Porter material will be transferred to these Archives (most already has), it is being prepared for archival preservation catalogued for study. For more information, please click on Porter Archives above.

The Porter Endowment supports visits by outstanding cell biologists to smaller colleges and schools, both for formal lectures and for informal meetings and discussions with students. For information on how to arrange for a Porter Lecture at your institution, please contact the Endowment. In 1999, the Endowment instituted its Fellows Program, which selects outstanding young cell biologists and provides funds for them to participate in organizing small, focussed meetings for in depth discussion of topics of special interest to the individual Fellows. The Fellows also are encouraged to make visits to smaller schools to deliver lectures on cell biology and meet with undergraduate students to discuss with them topics of mutual interest, including possible careers in cell biology.

The Keith R. Porter Endowment for Cell Biology is a non-profit entity under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. It is supported by contributions from individuals and corporations. For further information write, call, or email: