Article: Retirement with a twist for extolled Professor - Emeritus Professor Warren Tate

[Sly Saint]

Not everyone approaches retirement the same way. For newly appointed Emeritus Professor Warren Tate, retirement is a term that speaks more about gradual change than an abrupt cessation of work.

Technically, the famed biochemist and University of Otago stalwart retired on June 30 of this year. But there is a lot of work left to do, Emeritus Professor Tate says. And he intends to continue doing it.

That work began in 1967 when he first joined the Otago University as a summer student before starting his PhD here the following year. After a scientific OE he has held a continuous position here since 1975 with his research ranging from protein synthesis, genetic recoding and memory mechanisms, and the molecular mechanisms of unexplained human diseases. He has become a notable expert on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and became a Professor in 1989.

https://www.otago.ac.nz/biochemistry/news/otago741179.html

 

[Ravn]

The local paper has picked up on it, a rare occurrence as they usually ignore ME but with an added Covid19 twist it seems ME is interesting after all.

Otago Daily Times, 3 August 2020

Covid-19 could lead to 'explosion' in Tapanui flu cases

In a cruel twist, many Covid-19 survivors could be affected by a once-obscure chronic fatigue condition, initially termed the Tapanui flu, and whose existence was once ridiculed and denied.

Emeritus Prof Warren Tate (73), of the University of Otago biochemistry department, officially retired recently but is continuing his molecular-level research into the condition at the university.

More at link: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/...vid-19-could-lead-explosion-tapanui-flu-cases

For some reason the headline in the printed edition is 'Fears after survivors affected by ME/CFS'. Maybe someone pointed out that things aren't as certain as all that and they changed it online but it was too late for the print edition?

 

[wigglethemouse]

It was a good read. I'm really impressed with his dedication to researching ME, only "retiring" at 73. The story I loved the best was in a recent talk where he said that he met a farmer with whom he had a heated discussion, and then a few weeks later that farmer made a large donation towards his research.