Chuan-Pu Lee, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emerita of Biochemistry for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, died July 20. She was 84.

Dr. Lee retired from the School of Medicine Dec. 31, 2011, after a 36-year career with the School of Medicine. She was appointed a professor of Biochemistry on Sept. 1, 1975, and was named Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry in 1990.

Even after her retirement, she continued to serve with colleagues and students in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as an advisor.

"Science has been my life," Dr. Lee said upon her retirement. "I have great passion for mitochondrial bioenergetics research. I also enjoyed teaching and interacting with students. I have been blessed with excellent research assistants, pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows. I have had a well-equipped laboratory. We all worked hard and built a congenial working atmosphere in the lab. Our research projects progressed well and were rewarded with ample funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Association."

Dr. Lee established an endowment fund to assist pre- and post-doctorate fellows in the department to assist with costs associated with presentations and travel to national and international scientific meetings. She said she created the fund to provide young researchers "an opportunity to meet leading scientists in the world, broaden their scope of scientific research, and provide inspiration and encouragement in pursuing their career."

Dr. Lee is survived by a brother, Chuan-Shue "Mike" Lee (Catherine).

Her family is planning funeral service and burial to be held in Delaware. Planning for a local memorial service to honor Dr. Lee is underway. Details will be announced when finalized.