Who is Vladimir "Vlad" Taneev from Red Mars and what is their importance? Mars_trilogy English & Literature "Vladimir ""Vlad"" Taneev | Red Mars"

Vladimir Taneev is a biological scientist, and is the oldest of the crew of Ares, at fifty-eight. Vlad won the Nobel prize on Earth in medicine. On mars, Vlad and his medical crew are responsible for a number of research projects that change their way of life. First, Vlad and his team invent omegendorph, which is a drug that synthesizes the natural endorphins and opiates in the human brain, so acts as a feel good drug. In addition, Vlad's team creates a number of GEMs that survive on the planet and help the terraforming effort. Primarily, however, Vlad's importance is in his creation of a gerontological treatment that staves off the aging process, and helps cells regenerate. Vlad as his team escape during the revolution to the hidden colony.