Superfund Research Program
March 2026
Bruce Hammock, Ph.D., of the University of California (UC), Davis, who was internationally known for his chemistry, toxicology, biochemistry, entomology and human health research, passed away January 5. A longtime grantee of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP), Hammock served as Center Director at UC Davis for almost 40 years.
“Bruce was a brilliant scientist and a wonderful person whose genuine passion for science and discovery was unparalleled,” said NIEHS SRP Director Michelle Heacock, Ph.D. “He wanted to make the world a better place, and he proved that with dedication, basic science can be translated into new tools to improve human health.”
Hammock is renowned for his discovery of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) — an enzyme in the body that breaks down fatty acids — and for his long career developing sEH inhibitors to treat respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disease, neurological disorders, chronic pain, and more.
He and his collaborators translated their basic research into therapies through EicOsis LLC, a small business partly funded by NIEHS dedicated to developing drugs to treat pain in human and animals.
“Bruce’s perspective on the world was always refreshing. He embraced new ideas, had infectious excitement for innovation, and the unique skillset to be brilliant with the technical science, but also show such entrepreneurial astuteness,” said SRP Health Scientist Administrator Heather Henry, Ph.D. “He was the rare individual who excelled at both, but he was also a humble and affable person. He was the kind of mentor that loved science, life, and laughter.”
“Bruce was a great friend and colleague from the very beginning of the SRP,” said former SRP Director Bill Suk, Ph.D. “He had unlimited curiosity and a truly collaborative mindset. In addition to his profound mark on the scientific community, Bruce was a leader in mentoring the next generation of scientists. He was sincerely personally invested in his trainees and wanted to see them succeed not only professionally, but in life. His loss will be felt deeply by all who had the privilege to know him.”
Read more from the UC Davis press release.