Orten Lectureship

Dr. James M. Orten was a respected faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry from 1937 until his retirement in 1975, when he continued as Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry until his death on March 2, 1991. He was an excellent teacher and was popular among students. He was well known for his text books in biochemistry and for his research in the areas of porphyrin-heme biosynthesis, nutrition and intermediary metabolism. For his contributions, Dr. Orten was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Nutrition. Dr. Aline U. Orten received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Yale University in 1937 and came to the Wayne State University School of Medicine later that year as an instructor of physiological chemistry. Over the next half-century, the Ortens served as dedicated members of the Wayne State community. The James M. Orten Memorial Fund was established through the generous donations of Dr. Aline U. Orten, as well as friends of the Ortens. The fund was created to benefit graduate and postdoctoral students in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It allows the graduate students and postdoctoral associates to invite a renowned researcher in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology to present the James M. Orten Lecture. In addition it gives them an opportunity to meet with and interact personally with an internationally renown scientist. Upon her death on February 16, 2000, the fund was renamed the Aline U. and James M. Orten Memorial Lecture to honor both Drs. Orten.

More details will be posted at a later date regarding the 2025/2026 Orten Lecture.