Senate recognizes University of Utah Nobel laureate Mario R. Capecchi

The Utah Senate paused its regular calendar to recognize Mario R. Capecchi, the University of Utah researcher awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Senate moved Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4 to the top of the second-reading calendar, resolved into Committee of the Whole to hear Dr. Capecchi, read a formal citation outlining his scientific achievements and personal history, and approved the resolution on a roll call.

The citation noted Dr. Capecchi’s pioneering work on gene targeting in mice, its applicability to human disease research and his mentorship at the University of Utah. It recounted his childhood hardships in Italy during the Second World War and his long career in genetics. The citation summarized that “Doctor Mario R. Capecchi won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for his pioneering research in knockout mouse technology” and described his contributions to modeling diseases including cancer, diabetes and cystic fibrosis.

Dr. Capecchi spoke briefly to the Senate and acknowledged the role of the university and state support in enabling his work. “What we've accomplished could not have been done without the university and without support from the state,” he said. The Senate recorded the roll-call result for the resolution as 27 yes votes, 0 nay and 2 absent, and the resolution was referred to the House.