Bruce Hammock: 1947-2026

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Bruce Dupree Hammock, an internationally recognized scientist and an acclaimed member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology since 1980, died Monday, Jan. 5, in Davis. He was 78.

Dr. Hammock, who held a joint appointment with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, was renowned for his chemistry, toxicology, biochemistry, entomology and human health research that led to elected membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors; scores of professional honors and awards; and accolades from administrators, colleagues, researchers, alumni and students.

“Bruce Hammock’s groundbreaking contributions to insect physiology, toxicology, pharmacology, and experimental therapeutics have been recognized internationally, but here at UC Davis we also had the privilege of knowing him firsthand as a dedicated mentor, an outspoken advocate for students and faculty, and a generous and beloved colleague,” said Chancellor Gary S. May.

“I was especially proud to present Bruce with the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award in Innovation as part of the Chancellor’s Innovation Awards in 2020, and to later celebrate his recognition as recipient of the 2024 Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award,” the chancellor continued. “We are all better for having had Bruce as a member of our community for 46 years. I am deeply grateful for his enduring commitment to our campus, which helped shape who we are today and will continue to impact us in the years to come.”

'We Lost a Legend'

Joanna Chiu, professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, said Hammock's passing is a loss for the science community.

“We lost a legend," Chiu said. "Bruce will not only be remembered as a uniquely brilliant and extraordinary scientist and thinker, but also a kind and generous individual and a fierce supporter of his mentees and colleagues. We will miss him dearly."

“Bruce was the backbone of the department for decades,” said UC Davis Distinguished Professor Emerita Lynn Kimsey, who served 34 years as director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology. “His lab, students and staff were internationally recognized, coming up with landmark discoveries, including increasing the efficacy of pesticides and understanding the toxic effects, the biochemistry of inflammation, and novel pain treatments, among other things. Despite multiple honors and recognition, Bruce was a humble man, always willing to help and collaborate.”

Hammock is renowned for co-discovering soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) -- an enzyme in the human body that breaks down regulatory fatty acids -- and for his 50-year research on sEH inhibitors that led to therapeutic drug discoveries targeting such diseases as pain, eye and kidney disease, traumatic brain injury and stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's disease. In 2011, he co-founded EicOsis to fulfill a lifelong commitment to finding safer and more effective ways to treat chronic pain.

In his research, Hammock explored health risks from pesticides, mycotoxins, other bioterror agents and dietary and environmental chemicals, including microplastics. For 35 years, he directed the UC Davis Superfund Program, a multidisciplinary program funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences that crossed multidisciplines, including engineering, soil and water contamination, toxicology and analytical chemistry. Hammock supported scores of pre- and postdoctoral scholars in interdisciplinary research in five different colleges and graduate groups on campus. For 14 years, he directed an NIH Training Grant in Biotechnology at UC Davis for cross-training in physical and biological sciences.

He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Award in Agriculture, the Royal Society of Chemistry's Horizon Team Award, and the Bernard Brodie Award in Drug Metabolism from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Hammock was a fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and the Entomological Society of America. At UC Davis, he received the Academic Senate's Distinguished Teaching Award, the Faculty Research Lectureship and the Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award.

Born Aug. 13, 1947 in Little Rock, Arkansas (his father was a postal worker and his mother was an encyclopedia sales person), Bruce received his bachelor's degree in entomology (with minors in zoology and chemistry) magna cum laude from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, in 1969. He obtained his doctorate in entomology-toxicology from UC Berkeley in 1973 with mentor John Casida.

His career included working as a public health medical officer with the U.S. Army Academy of Health Science, San Antonio, and a postdoctoral fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation, Department of Biology, Northwestern University. He joined the UC Riverside faculty in 1975 and five years later, the UC Davis faculty. At UC Davis, he taught biochemistry, endocrinology, toxicology, and pharmaceutical discovery and development.

Over his nearly five decades at UC Davis, he published some 1300 research articles. He also has some 80 patents.

Hammock said his No. 1 criteria for selecting scientists in his lab was that they be "curious." He also believed that science should be "fun." Once every summer for nearly a decade, he sponsored water balloon battles on the Briggs Hall lawn, urging other labs to join his lab.  Away from the lab, he loved rock-climbing, hiking and kayaking.

Remembering a scientist, mentor and friend

“I had the privilege of teaching insect physiology with Bruce for 13 years, beginning shortly after I arrived in Davis. He was not only an exceptional scientist but also an outstanding and deeply committed instructor. I will be teaching my first class of the quarter this afternoon, and I know I will be thinking of those early days and the many lessons, scientific and personal, I learned from him.” --Walter Leal, Distinguished Professor with the UC Davis Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Keith Wing, a Hammock graduate student at UC Riverside, and now an East Coast industrial scientist/team leader, emailed this tribute: "The inspiration to do sound science in entomology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, cell biology and toxicology was started by working with Bruce. Though we (and later I) did many different technologies, we always made sure the science backed up the assertions, I strongly believe that trying many different technologies applied creatively to important problems helped my career, my companies and the U.S. in general. Throughout, Bruce, his wife Lassie, and my family and I maintained a strong friendship and kept in touch through my family's annual trips back to my wonderful home state of California. He was an informal guy stylistically, but I could always count on him to have an interesting and scientifically sound discussion. I was amazed at his persistence, academic productivity, creativity and the quality of science that emanated from his lab over decades. Where possible I would help him with business connections for EicOsis and the amazing soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor drugs, which are now showing such great efficacy and safety on pain, inflammation and now apparently, neurodegenerative diseases. His drive to continue this work to benefit society and patients worldwide has been a true inspiration."

Guodong Zhang said: "Bruce was the best mentor, collaborator, and friend I have encountered in my life. I first came to know him sixteen years ago, when I joined his lab at UC Davis as a postdoctoral fellow. At that time, I knew very little about his research in eicosanoid biology. However, during my interview with him in 2010, he told me that he valued new scientific ideas and that I would have the freedom to pursue whatever questions interested me in his lab. Encouraged by this trust and research freedom, I immediately decided to join his lab—a decision that remains the best of my career. The three years of postdoctoral training in his laboratory profoundly shaped my life and career, as they did for many other members of the laboratory and broad filed of eicosanoid research. Bruce was most excited by 'unexpected data,' as he believed such anomalies often led to new scientific discoveries. He consistently encouraged us to design experiments that could disprove his favorite hypotheses, fostering a rigorous, open-minded, and nurturing research environment. Most importantly, he treated everyone in the laboratory as a member of his family. Bruce was truly the best mentor, collaborator, and friend I have known. His invaluable guidance and unwavering support were pivotal to the success of countless lab members, myself included. As a Distinguished Professor and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Bruce was unquestionably a giant in the scientific community. Yet what set him apart most was his profound dedication to mentoring students, his genuine care for his group members, and his exemplary commitment to training the next generation of scientists." --Guodong Zhang, associate professor with the UC Davis Department of Nutrition.

“Bruce, to me, has been an extraordinary scientist, collaborator, colleague, mentor, and friend. I feel incredibly lucky to have joined Bruce's lab in 2010, where I learned how he approached challenging scientific problems with creativity and elegant simplicity. Bruce’s approachable nature is very different and unique way of communicating with his mentees made every interaction meaningful. I often joke that everyone who joined Bruce’s lab eventually became a victim of being his kayak buddy. For me, as a very shy and introverted person, I truly appreciate him taking his time to introduce me to these outdoor activities and creating a relaxed space where we could talk about many things, including science. I learned so much from these conversations, which have now become treasured memories that I will carry forever." --Kin Sing Lee, associate professor with the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Department of Chemistry at Michigan State University.

"Dr. Bruce Hammock, my dear advisor, had a profound impact on my career and life during my postdoctoral training, shaping how I think about science and what it truly means to pursue excellence. I joined Bruce’s lab as a postdoctoral fellow from 2019 to 2023, and throughout that time he provided unwavering guidance and support—not only in my academic journey, but also in my life. Bruce consistently encouraged me to pursue projects with real-world impact. He inspired me to think beyond publications and metrics, and to focus on science that genuinely helps people—particularly work aimed at assisting communities in Africa in overcoming the challenges posed by foodborne toxins. He emphasized the importance of openly discussing ideas with colleagues before conducting experiments or writing papers, instilling in me a collaborative mindset that fundamentally transformed how I approach science. I also benefited greatly from his thoughtful and strategic advice on aligning grant proposals with the specific aims of funding agencies, as well as his mentorship on engaging thoughtfully and constructively with fellow scientists. More than anything, Bruce led by example—with humility, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to mentoring the next generation. While his passing leaves a profound sense of loss, Bruce’s wisdom, values, and mentorship will continue to inspire me and everyone who had the privilege of working with him. He will always be the greatest mentor in my life and career, and his legacy will live on through the many scientists he guided, supported, and uplifted." -- Weicang Wang, assistant professor with the Department of Food Science at Purdue University.

"I feel incredibly fortunate to have been mentored by Dr. Bruce Hammock during my postdoctoral training. He was not only a brilliant scientist but also a deeply compassionate and generous mentor who truly cared about his trainees. His kindness, patience, and steady encouragement meant more to me than I can fully express, and his belief in me shaped my growth as a scientist and as a person. I will always carry his guidance with me, and his legacy will live on through all the lives he touched." --Yuxin Wang, former postdoctoral fellow and assistant project scientist in the Hammock lab.