Curiosity & Collaboration: The Work of Michael Potter (1924–2013)

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“The folks working and passionate about a problem would get together and just get up and present what they had to say, what they had to quibble about or squabble about…”
—Michael Paul Cancro, University of Pennsylvania

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Kristian Hannestadt, Robert Ashman, Ed Goetzle, Henry Metzger, Alan Kaplan, Norman Talal and Bill Konigsberg (left to right) exchange ideas at the 1969 workshop.

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National Library of Medicine

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Myron Leon, Elliott Osserman, and Michael Potter at the 1969 workshop. Although they were all in different organizations, the three had known and worked together for years.

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Mike Potter and Fritz Melchers of the Basel Institute for Immunology (below) organized annual Mechanisms in B Cell Neoplasia workshops that were held from 1983-1999 either at NIH or in Basel. The workshops compared normal B lymphocytes and plasma cells with their malignant counterparts, B cell leukemias, lymphomas, plasmacytomas and multiple myelomas. They searched for genetic, molecular, cellular and physiological differences between normal and malignant cells — differences that might contribute and, hence, explain the changes from normalcy to malignancy. It was hoped that the identification of molecular genetic alterations in tumors might offer targets for intervention to reverse and prevent tumor development.

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NIH Stetten Museum

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Courtesy of Dr. Beverly Mock, NCI

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These drawings by Phyllis Saroff illustrate a collection of papers from a 1985 workshop focused on the genetic diversity of “wild mice” (natural living house mice) and their use in research. The workshop was held because it had become apparent as genetic research progressed, that inbred strains of mice offered only a limited window into the genetic diversity in mice. Edited by Potter, Joseph Nadeau, and Michael Cancro, the book amazed reviewers by cataloging available stocks of mice and their sources. Depicted are M. pahari, M. spretus, M. minutoides, M. cervicolor, M. caroli, M. castaneus, and M. saxicola from Potter’s NCI colony of mice. More information can be found on the Potter's Books Artifact page. (TODO: Link)

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Wendy du Bois, head of the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Animal Model and Genotyping Core Facility, holds a plasma cell tumor sample frozen in the 1970s; such vials were routinely sent to other researchers. Now, commercial vendors provide Potter’s more popular plasma cell tumor lines. Potter’s group carefully recorded the history of the mice, starting on the page shown below, which provides information about cell lines.

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Courtesy of Wendy du Bois, NCI

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Courtesy of Wendy du Bois, NCI

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Potter loved talking about science as he fished or beach-combed on the Chesapeake Bay. The many young scientists, such as his graduate student, Richard Nordan (above), who worked with him over the years, remember their casual and wide-ranging discussions on these trips, as well as Potter’s scientific curiosity and openness to new ideas.

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Potter and his wife, Jeanne Ann, and their son and daughter, often hosted visiting scientists and graduate students in their home or on excursions to the beach. Jeanne Ann was an integral part of the community that they built around Michael’s research. Those who were young scientists with the Potters continue to form their own informal alumni group.

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Dr. Potter investigating animal remains Image Modified

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James Island in the Chesapeake Bay, 1980s

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Courtesy of Dr. Beverly Mock, NCI

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Even as a boy, Michael Potter loved two things: fishing and investigating the natural history of the seashore. He often used what he found to create artwork. These small shore bird sculptures were made by Potter with some of the shells that he found during his beach excursions. More information can be found on the bird sculpture artifacts page. (TODO: Link)

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Courtesy of Melissa Adde

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In 1969, Potter was awarded the Public Health Service’s Meritorious Service Medal (above). He and his wife, Jeanne Ann (shown above and right), and their son and daughter spent holidays on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

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Curiosity & Collaboration: The Work of Michael Potter (1924–2013)

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