George J. Brewer

George J. Brewer has distinguished himself in the area of human genetics.

George J. Brewer

He is retired but is an active emeritus professor in the departments of Human Genetics and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, living in Ann Arbor.

Born and raised in Merrillville, Ind., Brewer came to Purdue fresh out of high school in 1948, earning his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1952. He then attended Indiana University Medical School for two years and earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1956. He did his internship, fellowship and residency at the University of Chicago Clinics and then served as a research assistant and associate in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago before accepting a position as research fellow at the National Institutes of Health at Michigan’s Department of Human Genetics in 1963.

Dr. Brewer became an assistant professor of internal medicine and worked his way up the academic ladder to full professor in five years, starting with the Department of Human Genetics (1970-2001) and the Department of Internal Medicine (1976-2001). He also was an adjunct professor of veterinary medicine at nearby Michigan State University from 1989 to 1995.

Along the way, Dr. Brewer developed zinc as a therapy for Wilson’s disease and got the treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997. He is currently working to develop a drug for multiple therapeutic purposes.

Dr. Brewer has held memberships and offices in more than 15 professional societies, serving as president of the regional chapter of the American Federation of Clinical Research, the American College of Nutrition and the International Society for Trace Elements Research in Humans.

Dr. Brewer, who also has authored 342 publications, has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Chicago, the Raulin Award from the International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans, and the Master Award from the American College of Nutrition. He also has been chosen as a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.