Robert G. Roeder, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a professor at Rockefeller University, was a pioneer in eukaryotic transcription regulation. He discovered three RNA polymerases(RNA Pol I, II and III) that directly transcribe DNA into RNA back in 1969, which then opened up a new field of eukaryotic gene transcription regulation. Here we honor the 50th anniversary of this breakthrough finding and appreciate its tremendous impact on biological sciences. Since then, he has continued to make significant contributions to elucidate the basic mechanisms of the transcription machinery.

Many of Dr. Roeder's findings have become core parts of the textbooks in biology and basic medical sciences, which have great impacts on generations of young students and researchers. To honor his outstanding contributions to the eukaryotic gene transcription regulation, Dr. Roeder received Canada Gairdner International Award in 2000, Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2003, Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research in 2012 and Thomson Reuters Citation Laureates in 2014.

Since the 1980s, Dr. Roeder began to have frequent academic communication with China. He participated in many international conferences and seminars held in China and also served as an international academic advisor in many Chinese universities and institutions. Dr. Roeder is our old friend. He is the international academic advisor for Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure in Tsinghua University. He also participated in conferences and gave lectures in Tsinghua and the global vision lectures series. Many students had chances to meet and had interactions with him.

To honor the 50th anniversary for Robert Roeder’s discovery of RNA polymerase (RNA Polymerases I,II,III), 1969-2019: 50 Years of Eukaryotic Transcription was held by Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure at Tsinghua University on August 15, 2019.