As a Private First Class in the 1st Marine Division, he was awarded the Silver Star from the president of the United States “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity during action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on November 3, 1942".
These discoveries include identification of the pathway for the synthesis of 5-formyltetrahydrfolate, otherwise known as lucovorin,[9] the regulation of folate metabolism by iron,[10][11][12] the presence of de novo thymidylate biosynthesis in mitochondria including discovery of a novel isozyme of dihydrofolate reductase,[13] and the role of sumoylation in nuclear folate metabolism.
[14][15] His research group also identified impaired de novo thymidylate biosynthesis in the etiology of folic acid-responsive neural tube defects including spina bifida in mouse models.
[16] He has participated on many panels and expert committees related to folic acid fortification of the food supply and neural tube defect prevention.
[17] He received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from President Bill Clinton in 1996.