UCI professor and esteemed colleague, Michael W. Berns, PhD, co-founder of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, died Saturday, August 13 at the age of 79.

Dr. Berns was an assistant professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He then joined UCI as the chairman of the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology in 1976 and was a distinguished professor in the UCI Schools of Medicine, Engineering and Biological Sciences.

During his tenure at UCI, Dr. Berns was also named the Arnold and Mabel Beckman endowed Professor. Together with Arnold Beckman, he founded the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic in 1982 and served as the director until 2003.

“Michael truly authored the DNA of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, and all the inner workings of the Institute stemmed from his creative genius and tenacious spirit, said Thomas E. Milner, PhD, director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic. “He placed a high value on loyalty and that principle has been the ‘glue’ that has maintained the Beckman Laser Institute family atmosphere for nearly forty years, making the institute a pleasant, friendly, stimulating and creative work environment.”

In addition to the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, Dr. Berns was also the founding director of the UCI Center for Biomedical Engineering, and founded the UCI Photonics Incubator in 1999.

His research interests included laser tissue interactions, laser microbeam studies on cell structure/function, photonics-based biomedical instrumentation, ophthalmology, oncology and fertility.

Through his research, Dr. Berns endeavored to solve numerous biomedical problems through the application of lasers and other photonics devices.  His laboratory focused on how the body’s cells and tissues respond to light at the subcellular, cellular and tissue levels. In 1994, he was awarded the UCI medal – the highest award at UCI for outstanding career achievements.

As a teacher and mentor at UCI, Dr. Berns was an advocate for his mentees both in and out of the classroom. He continually provided learning experiences for his students and encouraged each to attend and present at major meetings and author publications. He also provided networks of potential contacts for career growth long after leaving his laboratory.

Dr. Berns was an elected fellow/member in numerous scientific and engineering societies including, the Royal Society of Biology of Great Britain, the Academy of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, the American Association for Advancement of Science, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery amongst others.

He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology from Cornell University, and completed postdoctoral studies at the Pasadena Foundation for Medical Research.

He will be greatly missed by family, friends and his professional colleagues.

Read more on the UCI School of Medicine website.