Ernest Borek

Ernest Borek (May 25, 1911 – February 14, 1986) was a Hungarian-American microbiologist, university professor, cancer researcher, and author. He was a professor at City University of New York (1934–1969) and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1955–1969). He was chairman of the Colorado Regional Cancer Center's Support Review Committee of the National Cancer Institute.

Early life and education Born in Nyírcsászári, Hungary, Ernest Borek moved with his family to New York City at the age of 14. He graduated from the City College of New York and obtained his PhD in biochemistry from Columbia University.

On March 22, 1964, The New York Times ran a page one article on a new unified theory of cancer development proposed by Borek and his Columbia University associate Dr. P. R. Srinivasan. The theory ties together all classes of known cancer-causing agents by a single, common mechanism of action through which normal cells are turned into malignant cells.

Author

Borek was the author of four popular books for the non-scientist, Man, the Chemical Machine (1952), The Atoms Within Us (1961), The Code of Life (1965), and The Sculpture of Life (1973), which describes the history and development of biochemistry and molecular biology. The Atoms Within Us has been translated into all major languages and received the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation Award for the best science book for the public in 1961. In addition to over 125 scientific publications in refereed journals and many reviews, he contributed essays to newspapers and scientific journals describing the problems of original thinkers in science.

Noting skepticism that greeted some of his ultimately successful scientific discoveries in cancer research, Borek wrote in an essay for the M.D. Anderson symposium in Houston: It is not surprising as it may at first appear that scientists should be reluctant to accept new ideas. A truly new idea is one of the most unpalatable impositions a man can inflict on his fellow men. A new idea assaults the vanity of the recipient. If it is a valid and worthy idea, why did he not think of that? Obviously, therefore, every new idea must be subjected to critical scrutiny".

Personal life Borek died in Denver on February 14, 1986, at the age of 74.