Alan Hofmann

Alan Frederick Hofmann (May 17, 1931 – September 7, 2021) was a gastrointestinal physiologist, biochemist and clinician who was notable for his extensive basic, translational and clinical research on bile acids and lipid digestion. From 1977, he was a member of the Division of Gastroenterology at University of California, San Diego. He influenced and mentored a large number of researchers with his ideas, knowledge and support.

Career He was born and grew up in Baltimore, MD, where he attended the Johns Hopkins University gaining an AB in 1951, and MD in 1955. He was a medical intern and resident at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York. From 1959 to 1962, he was a National Foundation Research Fellow, working with Bengt Borgström at the University of Lund, Sweden. This was an inspirational time for him and established his lifelong work in lipid digestion and bile acids. After continuing his research at Rockefeller University, New York, in 1966 he moved to the Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. In 1977 he relocated to University of California, San Diego, where he was Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, with Emeritus status from 2002.

Research Hofmann reviewed his 50-year research career up to 2009. Making the most of his proximity to the San Diego Zoo, his publications helped define the wide bile acid diversity found in different vertebrates.

His early studies on the role of bile acids in the formation of micelles, the structure of the mixed micelle, and bile acid metabolism in humans, led to pharmacokinetic models of lipid digestion.

He was instrumental in the development and evaluation of the use of bile acid therapy to dissolve cholesterol gallstones, first using chenodeoxycholic acid.

He published fundamental work on the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and how disturbances in ileal function such as those found in Crohn's disease can produce chronic diarrhea.

Publications He has numerous scientific publications dating from 1960 to 2021. His initial publications in 1960 characterized his future research: Exchange of iodine-131-labeled chylomicron protein in vitro in the American Journal of Physiology and the next (also a sole author publication) was in Nature on Micellar solubilization of fatty acids and monoglycerides by bile salt solutions.

He published over 500 articles, including original research and many invited contributions and reviews. His most highly cited publications are on the liver bile salt export pump (over 1100), the first description of gallstone dissolution by bile acid therapy (over 800), and the mechanisms whereby bile acids produce secretion in the colon (over 500). His articles have been widely cited, with an H-index of 111.

Awards and honors He received many awards recognizing his achievements, including honorary degrees and visiting lectureships. Distinguished Achievement Award, American Gastroenterological Association, Functions and dysfunctions of bile acids,1970 Sir Arthur Hurst Memorial Lecturer, British Society of Gastroenterology, 1974 Eppinger Prize (Falk Foundation, W. Germany), 1976 Harvey Society Lectureship, 1978 William Beaumont Prize in Gastroenterology of the American Gastroenterological Association, 1979 Honorary Doctorate, University of Bologna, Italy, 1988 Julius M. Friedenwald Medal, American Gastroenterological Association, 1994 and Aldo Roda. Together with Gustav Paumgartner in 1972, he helped establish the biennial series of international meetings on bile acids, sponsored by Dr. Herbert Falk and the Falk Foundation. These have been key in bringing together bile acid researchers and advancing knowledge of their actions and therapeutic value. Recipients have included James Boyer, Tachi Yamada, Monty Bissell, Jeff Gordon, and Anna Mae Diehl.

Personal He lived in La Jolla California and was married for 43 years to the artist Heli Hofmann. He is survived by two children from his first marriage, Anthea Phillips and Cecilia McKenzie, five grandchildren, and two stepdaughters. He remained scientifically active into his 90th year, but suffered from multiple system atrophy. He died peacefully at home in La Jolla on September 7, 2021.