UNC professor Magnuson celebrates induction into Institute of Medicine

In the past decade, UNC professor Terry Magnuson has built an academic department and two research endeavors.

He says it’s not the success that keeps him coming back — it’s the people.

Nevertheless, he received another accolade last week when he was elected into the Institute of Medicine along with UNC microbiology professor Myron Cohen.

“Terry is just a great scientist, and you get the sense that he does it for all the right reasons,” said Mauro Calabrese, a postdoctoral fellow who works in Magnuson’s genetics research lab.

Calabrese added that the environment in the lab is more like an extended family than a group of scientists.

The Institute of Medicine is an independent nonprofit organization that works to make the public and private sectors more informed about medical sciences, health care and public care.

Election into the institute is considered one of the highest acclaims in the field of health and medicine. Nominees are elected by members of the Institute. More than 70 doctors and researchers across the nation received the award this year.

“To me, it’s quite an honor,” Magnuson said.

Magnuson has worked at UNC since 2000, when he came to lead a genome project that enlisted the help of departments across campus to apply research in practical ways.

“The thing that makes Terry so special is his incredible ability to bring people together from diverse and academic backgrounds,” said biology professor Jeff Dangl.

Dangl said that Magnuson’s extensive research efforts made the award long overdue.

Magnuson led the creation of the UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Genetics, which he chairs.

He also started the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, as well as the Cancer Genetics Program at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, which he directs.

Dangl said that Magnuson is a strong team builder who has incorporated genetics into the School of Medicine’s curriculum with a unique approach.

“He is the point guard that runs the show,” Dangl said.

He added that the award will benefit the entire campus because it will increase private donations and improve academic rankings.

Magnuson said his lab team is instrumental to his success, adding that working with them is the highlight of his day.

“That’s what I love the most, working with these people,” he said.

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