In memoriam: German A. Camejo
German A. Camejo, a globally recognized researcher in the field of lipoproteins who started a new era in atherosclerosis research, died Nov. 29, 2021, at the age of 85 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Camejo was born in Venezuela in 1936. At the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, he studied with Werner G. Jaffé as an undergraduate. He moved to New York to obtain his Ph.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, then returned to Caracas where he started his academic career at the Central University of Venezuela. He moved to the Venezuelan Research Institute as a principal researcher and deputy director; with the help of his lab’s dedicated research, the institute achieved international recognition.
In 1986, Camejo and his wife, Eva, visited the Wallenberg Laboratory at Sahlgrenska University Hospital at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden on a sabbatical leave and decided to stay there. He joined the lab as a professor of clinical biochemistry. In 1990, he joined AstraZeneca as a principal investigator in metabolism and head of the department of biochemistry. After his retirement from AstraZeneca at the age of 75, he joined the department of clinical chemistry at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, as an associate researcher.
Camejo spent his entire career studying the lipoprotein–proteoglycan interaction; his findings about the ionic interaction between positively charged apolipoproteins and the negatively charged surface of proteoglycans opened up a new avenue for studying atherosclerosis. He was also a leader in the development and characterization of PPAR modulators as a PI at AstraZeneca.
Among the awards Camejo received for his work were the Medal Francisco de Miranda for Academic Merit in 1988 and the Humberto Fernandez Moran Medal for Science Achievements in 2009. He also served as the president of the Venezuelan Atherosclerosis Society.
Camejo joined the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2011. He was a member of the Journal of Lipid Research editorial board for more than 20 years, and the journal honored him with a tribute article in May. Throughout his research career, he published more than 200 research articles in peer-reviewed journals with 8,307 citations.
In addition to his scientific life, Camejo loved to spend his time cooking and trekking in the forests of Sweden.
He is survived by his wife, Eva, and children, Teobaldo, German A. Jr., Maqui and Sarah Elena, and their families.
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition weekly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in People
People highlights or most popular articles
From antibiotic resistance to an antibody targeting immune cells
MOSAIC scholar Diego Pedroza got his start in chemistry, then moved to molecular biology, endocrinology and testing cancer drugs — “something that could truly make a difference.”
Ali, Falade, Usman selected for mentoring program
Bashir Ali, Omolara Falade and Olalekan Usman have been selected to participate in the Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program for Biotechnology, which pairs ethnically diverse students and early career researchers with industry mentors.
How military forensic scientists use DNA to solve mysteries
Learn how two analysts at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory use molecular biology and genetics to identify the remains of fallen troops.
A decade of teaching the Art of Science Communication
Why now, more than ever, scientists must be able to explain what they do to non-scientists.
Of genes, chromosomes and oratorios
Jenny Graves has spent her life mapping genes and comparing genomes. Now she’s created a musical opus about evolution of life on this planet — bringing the same drive and experimentalism she brought to the study of marsupial chromosomes.
In memoriam: Margaret Fonda
She taught biochemistry in a male-dominated department at a medical school and was an ASBMB member for more than 50 years.