Jan Frederik (“Fred”) Stevens is the Linus Pauling Institute’s new Ava Helen Pauling Chair.
Dr. Stevens was among several Oregon State University faculty members recognized by the OSU Foundation at its annual Faculty Excellence Dinner on May 7. Honorees included new holders of endowed faculty positions, new fellows, and OSU’s new Distinguished Professor, Melissa Cheyney.
Dr. Stevens is currently LPI’s Associate Director of Research and a professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy. He joined the Linus Pauling Institute in 2002.
Dr. Stevens’ research focuses on the chemistry, biology, and pharmacology of natural products from plants. He is known for leading pioneering research on xanthohumol, a natural product from the female flowers of the hops plant.
The Stevens lab has discovered that xanthohumol exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemic effects in animal models of metabolic syndrome. Dr. Stevens brought xanthohumol to clinical trials for testing its safety and efficacy in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.
The Ava Helen Pauling Chair position was named in honor of Dr. Linus Pauling’s wife because of her great importance to him, his career, and their work opposing nuclear testing and promoting world peace. The endowed chair position was first held by Dr. Joseph Beckman, beginning in 2001, and was most recently held by Dr. Maret Traber.
Photo: Fred Stevens and LPI Director Emily Ho at the May 7 Faculty Excellence Dinner
Credit: Karl Maasdam Photography