Meet our Scientists

Drs. Elaine and Myron (Mike) Jacobson have served as Professors at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, University of Kentucky, and the University of Arizona. They both received their B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Utah and at the Mayo Clinic. Throughout their academic careers, they have been very active in teaching at the undergraduate, professional school and graduate school levels.

Their research has focused on understanding the roles of niacin and niacin derived molecules in human health and their work has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 28 years ,leading to more than 150 published papers and invited book chapters and more than 25 patent applications.

In the late 1990s, their efforts to translate knowledge of niacin function toward clinical applications led to the development of novel

compounds designed for topical delivery of niacin, one of which has been selected by the National Cancer Institute for evaluation as a skin cancer prevention agent under the Rapid Access to Prevention Intervention Development (RAPID) program. The translational research also has led to discovery of new functions of niacin in skin biology. The technology developed by Niadyne has been applied to the development of skin care products currently being marketed and to the ongoing development of drugs for treatment and prevention of dermatology conditions and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The Jacobsons have received numerous awards for their research. Among these were the 2005 Roger J. Williams Award in Preventive Nutrition, an international award recognizing contributions to human health and well being through discovery of new roles of nutrition in human health. In 2006, they were awarded the Outstanding University Achievement Award, University of Arizona. Kansas State University honored Myron and Elaine as Alumni Fellows in 2007, a distinguished alumni award. In 2010, the Jacobsons were named the joint recipients of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy’s Findlay E. Russell, M.D., Ph.D., Distinguished Citizen Award, and in 2011, they received the Innovators in Dermatology Award and were also recognized along with StriVectin at The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Skin Sense Awards which honors exceptional acheivement in skin health.