In Memoriam: NIH Research Scientist Andy Golden ’82
Golden, who made major contributions toward scientific understanding of how cells divide and more recently focused on rare inherited diseases, died July 1.Tuesday, August 22, 2023 01:46 PM
Andy Golden ’82 (at right, speaking to Muhlenberg students at the NIH during a Career Center visit in 2017)Andy Golden ’82, a renowned NIH research scientist who worked with microscopic worms called C. elegans, died July 1. His work made major contributions toward scientific understanding of how cells divide, with implications for understanding the mechanisms of cancer. In recent years, he focused his research on genetic mutations associated with rare human diseases. Throughout his career, he mentored emerging scientists, including several from Muhlenberg, and nurtured a deep connection with his alma mater.
At Muhlenberg, Golden studied biology and was vice president of Zeta Beta Tau. He went on to obtain a Ph.D. from SUNY Stony Brook and to conduct postdoctoral studies at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. That’s where he began to focus on C. elegans. It’s also where he published his first major paper, in Nature, about a gene that is a major player in cancers in humans and other animals.
In his earlier work at the NIH, he did a range of studies that helped determine the specific proteins that are involved in cell division events. In the last decade or so, he reworked his lab to focus on using C. elegans as a model to study the mechanics of rare human inherited diseases.
Per the National Organization for Rare Disorders, “a rare disorder is a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. Cumulatively, there are more than 7,000 rare diseases affecting more than 30 million Americans.” Pharmaceutical companies generally aren’t interested in developing therapeutics for these conditions because of their rarity. Golden’s idea was to use C. elegans to explore the mechanisms of genes that aren’t well understood in human beings but might have clinical implications for patients with rare disorders. His most recent research interest was Timothy Syndrome, a rare condition that can predispose children to potentially fatal arrhythmias. Working with families of affected children, he helped launch the Timothy Syndrome Foundation and the Timothy Syndrome Alliance.
Golden was devoted to his undergraduate alma mater. He would search for the word “Muhlenberg” when sifting through applications for positions in his lab, confident in the training that students from the College receive. He remained connected with his fraternity brothers as well as his fraternity, sometimes offering positions in his lab to current brothers. He worked with the Career Center to connect with and mentor students and helped facilitate a 2017 student visit to the NIH.
On a personal level, Golden was known for being affable, personable and charismatic. He was a talented scientific mentor who helped launch many careers. At the celebration of his life, held July 11 in Woodstock, Maryland, the venue exceeded its capacity and some mourners needed to gather outside. Fraternity brothers traveled from multiple locations to share their remembrances of him.
Survivors include his wife, Alex; his daughter, Zoe; and his brother, Hal. A more complete obituary can be found here.
