Robin E. Offord
Robin Offord was born on June 28, 1940 in Stondon, United Kingdom. He passed away on March 11, 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Offord taught biochemistry and carried out research activities at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, U.K. from 1962-1980, collaborating with among others, the Nobel Prize winners Frederick Sanger, César Milstein, Dorothy Hodgkin and Aaron Klug.
As in everything Robin did, he enriched all endeavors with his extensive knowledge, skill, and professionalism. Robin became a member of the American Peptide Society in 1991. He held the position of Secretary of the Board from 2003-2007 and 2007-2011.
He was a member of the Executive Committee from 2011-2017 and was the President of the Board from 2013-2015. In 2005, he was the recipient of the Rao Makineni Lectureship which recognizes an individual who has made a recent contribution of unusual merit to research in the field of peptide science. Robin was always an avid supporter of Young Investigators.
In 2017 at the APS Conference held in Whistler, B.C. Canada, Robin was recognized by APS President Phil Dawson for Robin's contributions to the American Peptide Society. The recognition read "In recognition of your outstanding and continuous service to the American Peptide Society. Through leadership, scholarship and mentoring, you have strengthened and enriched our society."
Robin became a member of the Board of Trustees for Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies (TPIMS) in 2005. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2009. During his tenure with TPIMS, the institute grew to become an internationally known bi-coastal research organization.
Career Highlights
1959-1962 Scientific Assistant United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
1962 Researcher, Medical Research Council Laboratory, Molecular Biology, Cambridge, U.K.
1966-1972 Staff Member, Laboratory Molecular Biophysics, Oxford, England,
1968-1973 Fellow, University College
1973-1980 Tutor Christ Church
1980-2006 Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
1991 Member of American Peptide Society, 2003-2007 Board Secretary, 2005 Recipient of the Rao Makineni Award, 2007-2001 Board Secretary, 2011-2017 Executive Committee, 2013-2015 President of Board
1994-2000 President of the School of Basic Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
1998 Co-funded the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics in addition, he was cofounder of three biotech companies: Gryphon Sciences (1994), Geneva Bioinformatics (GeneBio) (1998) and Geneva Proteomics (GeneProt) (2000)
2002 Shared the “Man of the Year, Switzerland” award of the Swiss financial Newspaper L’agefi
2005-2009 Member Board of Trustees, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Florida, USA
2009 Chair of Board of Trustees, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Florida, USA
**Shared by Pamela Houghten**
Link for Book of Rememberance: https://www.forevermissed.com/robin-offord/
Link for Funeral Service (March 22) Holy Trinity Church - Genéva
If you would like to make a commemorative gift to honour Robin's memory, please make a donation to
