Chung Lee, PhD, Director of Research, 1974-Present
In 1974, the laboratory was enhanced by the recruitment of endocrinologist Chung Lee, PhD, producing a highly productive collaboration. Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China in 1936 and earned his bachelor's degree from National Taiwan University. He received his graduate degrees from West Virginia University and was post-doctoral fellow at Albany Medical College. He came to Northwestern in 1971 to do endocrinology research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. His interest in endocrinology brought him to the attention of Dr. Grayhack, who recruited him to the Department of Urology as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Urology Research Laboratory. In the succeeding nine years, Dr. Lee's productivity has advanced him to the level of full Professor and a joint appointment with the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. Under his direction, the laboratories have grown steadily and produced a large volume of basic research.
Over the years, Dr. Lee has been involved in numerous doctoral theses, advising 13 candidates and 11 postdoctoral fellows. Twenty-seven urology research fellows have spent a year in his laboratory (five of whom had National Kidney Foundation fellowships) and over 100 scientific papers have been published in prestigious research journals. Dr. Lee's ability to motivate and interest residents during their year in the laboratory has had the obvious result of producing a number of academic urologists across the nation.
Dr. Lee has been in many NIH study sections and review groups and has reviewed manuscripts for the American Journal of Physiology, Biology of Reproduction, Cancer Research, Cytometry, Endocrine Reviews, and Endocrinology as well as Investigative Urology, the Journal of Andrology, and The Prostate. He is a member of the Society for Basic Urologic Research and served as its president from 1994 to 1995. He is a basic science consultant to the AUA/AFUD research committee and has been a member consultant on prostate cancer research of the AUA program committee. Dr. Lee has steadily attracted NIH funding over the past 23 years and has been a major factor in the successful submission of grant applications for the department.
As the time approached for Dr. Grayhack to relinquish the Chairmanship, he wished to see the continuation of the laboratory. In response, funds were raised for the John T. Grayhack Professorship in Urological Research. In 1992, Dr. Lee was named as the first recipient.
