Dr.
Thomas H. Maren, a founding father of the Department of Pharmacology
of the University of Florida College of Medicine, gained international
recognition for his pioneering investigation of an enzyme called carbonic
anhydrase. His discoveries paved the way for the development of new drugs to treat
heart and kidney disease, brain fluid disorders, altitude sickness,
and glaucoma. The latest and most visible outcome of his research are
eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma, the most common cause of blindness.
His work has helped to preserve the sight of millions throughout the
world.
Born in New York City in 1918, Dr. Maren earned his undergraduate degree
in chemistry at Princeton University in 1938. He worked as a research
chemist for many years before entering Johns Hopkins University medical
school, where he earned his medical doctor degree in 1951. He was also
awarded a master's degree in English from Princeton and an honorary
medical doctorate from Uppsala University in Sweden.
Dr. Maren served five years as an instructor of pharmacology and therapeutics at Johns Hopkins and worked four years as a pharmacologist with American Cyanamid Co. in Stamford, Conn. before accepting an appointment at UF as the first professor and chairman of pharmacology and therapeutics.
Dr. Maren arrived on the UF campus in 1955, a year before the colleges of Medicine and Nursing opened as the first components of the UF Health Science Center. He helped recruit many of the charter medical faculty and helped the college prepare for its first class of students.
In a memoir (Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 22:1-18: 1982) entitled "Great Expectations", he wrote that he had always been blessed by the great expectations held out for him. We are honored to be the recipients of the generosity of the Thomas H. Maren Foundation and will strive to make this web site live up to your great expectations.
See also Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinivica 1999 In Memoriam of Thomas H. Maren, MD, 1918-1999