A newly established endowed chair in nutrition research at UT Southwestern honors Dallas civic leader and longtime nutrition advocate Vin Prothro. For four years, Mr. Prothro served as chairman of the Friends of the Center for Human Nutrition, which raises approximately $150,000 annually for research and education.

"Vin Prothro did an excellent job building the Friends into a strong support group," said Dr. Scott Grundy, director of the nutrition center. "By funding the salaries of many of our research fellows, the Friends provide invaluable support to the center's research. The Friends deserve enormous credit for their contribution to the development of the academic career's of todays and tomorrow's nutrition scientists."

The first holder of the Prothro chair is Dr. Ishwarlal Jialal, professor of pathology and internal medicine and a senior investigator in the center. "I am delighted to receive this honor from this premier institution and am convinced this will significantly enhance my research in defining the role of micronutrients in health and disease," Dr. Jialal said.

To establish the C. Vincent Prothro Chair in Human Nutrition Research, an anonymous donor redesignated an earlier endowment given to support the center and upgraded it to an endowed chair, citing the need for endowed chairs for permanent faculty. The chair is valued at $500,000.

"For years, Vin Prothro had made significant personal contributions of time, funds and leadership to the human nutrition program," said Dr. Kern Wildenthal, UT Southwestern president. "It is just one of many avenues through which he has lent generous support to UT Southwestern." Dr. Jialal has done extensive research on antioxidants. Future research will focus on the role of established antioxidants--vitamins E and C and lesser- known antioxidants --such as flavonoids--in oxidative stress, inflammation and aging.

A member of the Institute of Medicine's Panel on Antioxidants and Related Nutrients, Dr. Jialal has received numerous awards for his research, the most recent being the International Hermes Vitamin Prize. Dr. Jialal graduated from the University of Natal Medical School in South Africa and trained as a fellow at Harvard Medical School and the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He joined UT Southwestern faculty in 1988. He has published more than 200 original papers, review articles and book chapters on nutrition, metabolism and atherosclerosis.

Mr. Prothro is founder and chief executive office of Dallas Semiconductor. He has served on the boards of Zale Lipshy University Hospital and Southwestern Medical Foundation and in various leadership roles with the Dallas Museum of Art, Southern Methodist University, the Dallas Symphony Association and Dallas Zoological Society. He is chairman of Gov. George W. Bush's Science and Technology Council. Mr. Prothro and his wife Caren, received the Annette G. Strauss Humanitarian Award from the Family Gateway in 1999.