JAMES A. HAMILTON

HAMILTON, James A. Retired BU Research Professor James A. Hamilton, age 77, of Newton, MA, passed away in his home, on October 10, his loving wife of 42 years by his side. He was a scientist, dedicated husband, father, and grandfather; colleague and friend to many; accomplished pianist and photographer; nature enthusiast; and international traveler., Dr. Hamilton was born in Lewistown, PA, on October 21, 1947, to Joseph and Margaret Hamilton. He graduated from Juniata College in 1969 and earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University in 1974. In 1978, Hamilton was recruited to the Boston University School of Medicine to establish an NMR Facility, which he developed into a state of the art research laboratory. He retired from Boston University as a full professor in 2023. Throughout his long career, Dr. Hamilton was motivated by compassion and a desire to help people. His contributions to chemistry and medicine endure through hundreds of published papers with over 18,000 citations. As an innovator, Dr. Hamilton believed in the potential to improve patients' health and longevity through better diagnostics. His work led to breakthroughs in detecting and treating lipid abnormalities associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He pioneered the application of carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy to plasma lipoproteins that transport cholesterol in the blood, using this novel MR imaging to identify and determine the localization of cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques that cause myocardial infarction and stroke. Dr. Hamilton's research drew the attention and collaboration of esteemed researchers and Nobel laureates, including the late Dr. Roger Y. Tsien. Eminent scientist and friend, Dr. Antonio Gotto, Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College, remarked of Hamilton: "He was a trailblazer in the use of imaging to study blockage of the coronary arteries. The methodology can be used to predict who is likely to have blockage leading to a heart attack and help choose the most appropriate treatment. This could help save thousands of lives." Dr. Hamilton strove to ensure his research would translate into preventative treatment, leading him to co-found Elucid, a Boston-based company at the forefront of cardiovascular innovation. Hamilton's groundbreaking methodology formed part of the foundation for Elucid's advanced AI-enabled software capable of noninvasively detecting vulnerable arterial plaque, helping clinicians evaluate a patient's risk of heart attack or stroke with unprecedented precision. A tireless worker, Dr. Hamilton recently developed a clinical measure of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system (Hamilton et al., 2023). He remained an active researcher until the end and never lost his passion for the next paper, conference, or scientific discussion. Dr. Hamilton leaves behind a large cohort of students whom he took exceptional time and care to mentor. Allyson Zheng, a recent graduate of Boston University, reflected: "When I moved to Boston, I was 17 and alone. It was the middle of the pandemic, and Jim met with me in person, took me in, and looked out for me. I always looked forward to going to the lab, and he inspired me to go into medicine." Sunni Lin, a former student now at Harvard Medical School, shared, "Dr. Hamilton is one of the most important mentors in my life. He taught me MRI imaging and how to conduct research at BU, with always an eager, passionate spark in his eye. Beyond the technical skills, he showed me what a scientist embodies: to improve the lives of people through generosity, kindness, love, curiosity, and humility." Anyone who knew Dr. Hamilton knew that for all his professional contributions, his first love was his family. He is survived by his wife, Malinda Hamilton; daughter, Lianna Chong; son, Guy Hamilton; beloved grandsons, Isaiah Chong (8 years) and Theodore Chong (4 years); siblings, John Hamilton, Dorothy Hamilton, and Martha Sherman; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A Funeral and Celebration of Life Service will take place at Boston University Marsh Chapel, Saturday, October 25, 11am. Donations can be sent to Mass Audubon or Marsh Chapel. Visiting Hours will be on Friday, in the Eaton & Mackay Funeral Home, 465 Centre St., NEWTOWN CORNER. www.eatonandmackay.com Hamilton, J., N. Huang, M. Saeed, M. Sagar, and A. Zheng. "Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and COVID-19 infection: A deadly synergism." Atherosclerosis 379 (2023): S19.