Papers of Robert N. Hamburger, UCSD professor of pediatrics and researcher in allergy and immunology. Hamburger investigated the relationship between peptides and immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and synthesized human IgE pentapeptide (HEPP), a substance shown to inhibit allergic response. Included in the collection are laboratory notebooks (1960-1984), extensive research files on Hamburger's allergy studies, correspondence, and Food and Drug Administration documents related to animal and human testing. Also included are business files related to Allergy Peptide Company, Inc. (APCo, Inc.); Cytotech, Inc.; Immunetech, Inc.; Immunetech Research Partners; and Syntex Corporation, biotechnology firms that attempted to develop HEPP as a commercial product. The collection also contains biographical materials, writings, lectures, correspondence, and materials related to Hamburger's involvement in professional organizations. The later accessions include UCSD administrative documents including committtee materials and documents related to the history of the School of Medicine. The papers are arranged in nine series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIAL, 2) RESEARCH MATERIAL, 3) WRITINGS BY HAMBURGER, 4) WRITINGS OF OTHERS, 5) BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FIRMS, 6) PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, 7) UCSD GENERAL CAMPUS, 8) UCSD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, and 9) ORIGINS OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT UCSD.

Robert N. Hamburger was born in New York on January 26, 1923. He received his B.A. in zoology and chemistry in 1947 from the University of North Carolina and attended Yale University School of Medicine (1947-1951), where he conducted research on LE cells. Hamburger carried out his medical residency at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., and Yale University School of Medicine. Between 1960 and 1963, as a Special Fellow of the National Institutes of Health, he studied molecular genetics and immunology in the UCSD Department of Biology. In 1964, he was appointed associate professor of pediatrics at the UCSD School of Medicine and served as its Assistant Dean for Faculty and Curriculum Affairs (1964-1969). In 1967, during a six-month semi-sabbatical at Guy's Hospital Medical School, London, he studied the development of immunologic systems in the human newborn. Hamburger was appointed head of the Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Division of the UCSD School of Medicine in 1969.

15.4 Linear feet (39 archives boxes)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.