Roland Kenith Robins, founder and former director of Brigham Young University's Cancer Research Center, died Monday, Aug. 10, in San Diego. He was 65.
Dr. Robins was internationally recognized for his chemical and cancer research. His work led to the production of drugs that fight cancer, Parkinson's disease, leukemia, hepatitis A, herpes and influenza. He synthesized several major biotics, and he also held more than 27 patents. At the time of his death, he was researching AIDS and Alzheimer's disease at the University of San Diego.After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from BYU and his doctorate from Oregon State University in 1952, Dr. Robins spent a year doing cancer research in New York. He taught at New Mexico Highlands University, Arizona State University and the University of Utah and directed research at the ICN Nucleic Acid Research Institute in Irvine, Calif., before becoming a BYU professor and founding the school's cancer research program in 1978.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Eastlawn Memorial Hills, 4800 N. 650 East, Provo. Friends may call Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Berg Mortuary, 500 N. State, Orem.