The Department of Pharmacology is part of the University of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division focused on basic life sciences research, undergraduate teaching for medical and biomedical sciences students and training and development of graduate students. The building is located on Mansfield Road.

History

In Oxford the

Botanic Garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

was founded in 1621 to grow plants for medicinal use and research. Teaching of ‘Chemical Pharmacology’ by chemist James Ernest Marsh FRS was taking place as early as 1890 in the

Oxford University Museum of Natural History The Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It also contains a lecture theatre which is used by the univers ...

. The Department of Pharmacology was founded in 1898 with the appointment of Dr William John Smith Jerome as a ‘Lecturer on Medical Pharmacology and ''Materia Medica’''. Smith Jerome delivered an introductory lecture for a public audience in the museum on ‘Pharmacology: its Aims and Methods’ published in

The Lancet ''The Lancet'' is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, founded in England in 1823. It is one of the world's highest-impact academic journals and also one of the oldest medical journals still in publication. The journal publishes ...

1898-1908 - 1st lecturer

William John Smith Jerome (1839-1929) taught

pharmacology Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur betwee ...

for a decade while carrying out research into the formation of

uric acid Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the Chemical formula, formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates, such as ammonium acid urate. Uric acid is a product of the meta ...

and the development of

gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of pain in a red, tender, hot, and Joint effusion, swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crysta ...

He had previously established the

Royal Children’s Hospital The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), colloquially referred to as the Royal Children's, is a major children's hospital in Parkville, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Regarded as one of the great Children's hospitals globally, the hosp ...

, Melbourne, and had been a curator of a

pathology Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

museum in Melbourne, a lecturer in

Botany Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxonomy, taxonomy, and Plant ecology, ecology. A botanist or plant scientist is a scientist who s ...

Charing Cross Hospital Charing Cross Hospital is district general hospital and teaching hospital located in Hammersmith in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The present hospital was opened in 1973, although it was originally established in 1818, approxim ...

and carried out research in Germany with papers published in the ''Plügers Archiv'' between 1883-1895. A report on teaching medicine in Oxford in the

British Medical Journal ''The BMJ'' is a fortnightly peer-reviewed medical journal, published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, which in turn is wholly-owned by the British Medical Association (BMA). ''The BMJ'' has editorial freedom from the BMA. It is one of the world ...

in 1906 described Smith Jerome as an excellent teacher but that he was teaching in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in an “''out-house in the Museum ground''” with inadequate facilities. In 1908 Smith Jerome resigned and moved to Italy. He published a paper on the physiological action for an Italian method for treating

respiratory infections Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are infectious diseases involving the lower or upper respiratory tract. An infection of this type usually is further classified as an upper respiratory tract infection (URI or URTI) or a lower respiratory tract ...

through salt inhalation.

1912-1937 - 1st statutory chair

James Andrew Gunn (1882-1958) was appointed Reader in Pharmacology in 1912 to a newly refurbished space for teaching and research in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. He had gained five degrees in the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

, and in 1917 he was made the first Professor of Pharmacology in Oxford. During WWI he served in the R.A.M.C. Following an endowment from the Sir William Dunn Trustees for a new building for pathology in 1927, Gunn proposed using the vacated pathology building in South Parks Road for pharmacology. Gunn’s proposal was supported with funding to refurbish the building with teaching and research facilities, and to expand the departmental library. In 1931 Gunn initiated the creation of the

British Pharmacological Society The British Pharmacological Society is the primary UK learned society for Pharmacology, pharmacologists, concerned with research into drugs and the ways in which they work. Members work in academia, industry, regulatory agencies, and the health se ...

with a letter signed with

Sir Henry Dale Sir Henry Hallett Dale (9 June 1875 – 23 July 1968) was an English pharmacologist and physiologist. For his study of acetylcholine as agent in the chemical transmission of nerve pulses (neurotransmission) he shared the 1936 Nobel Prize in Ph ...

and Dr. Walter E. Dixon. The first meeting took place in Oxford on Friday 3rd July 1931 with papers being given the following day in the Department of Pharmacology. Gunn’s research included investigating the actions of compounds related to

adrenaline Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands a ...

, and on

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s of ''Peganum harmala''.

1937-1959 - 2nd statutory chair

Prior to Oxford,

Joshua Harold Burn Joshua Harold Burn Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (6 March 1892 – 13 July 1981) was an English pharmacologist and professor of pharmacology, leading the Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Department of Pharmacology. The Nobe ...

FRS (1892-1981) worked with Sir Henry Hallett Dale and then became director of the Pharmacological Laboratories at the

Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) existed from its founding as the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in 1841 until 2010. The word "Royal" was added to its name in 1988. It was the statutory regulatory and professional ...

. On his appointment in Oxford, Burn invited

Edith Bülbring Edith Bülbring, FRS (27 December 1903 – 5 July 1990) was a British scientist in the field of smooth muscle physiology, one of the first women accepted to the Royal Society as a fellow ( FRS). She was professor of pharmacology at the Univers ...

to join him as his assistant along with technician H.W. Ling. Burn designed a course for teaching medical students that took an experimental approach to pharmacology based on physiology. He expanded research in the department and encouraged community with daily lunches in the library often accompanied with music by departmental members. The Vice-Chancellor described the Department of Pharmacology as the ''“happiest family in Oxford”.'' Over the years Burn had 162 co-workers in Oxford including

, and Sir John Vane. Burn worked on the internal control of the body by the

autonomic nervous system The autonomic nervous system (ANS), sometimes called the visceral nervous system and formerly the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the nervous system that operates viscera, internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervo ...

, carrying out seminal work on the release of

noradrenaline Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as a hormone, neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. The name "noradrenaline" (from ...

from these nerves and introducing the controversial Burn-Rand hypothesis. Burn won the 1st

Wellcome Wellcome ( zh, first=j, c=惠康, j=wai6 hong1, p=Huìkāng) is a supermarket chain owned by British conglomerate Jardine Matheson Holdings via its DFI Retail Group subsidiary. The Wellcome supermarket chain is one of the two largest super ...

Gold Medal of the

in 1979.

1959-1984 - 3rd statutory chair

Photograph of William Paton CBE and HW Ling

Sir William Paton FRS (1917-1993) was appointed in 1959. He was awarded a

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 1968 and a knighthood in 1979. Prior to Oxford he had worked in the National Institute of Medical Research, had been a Reader in Pharmacology in UCL and then Professor of Pharmacology in the

Royal College of Surgeons The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ...

. In NIMR he discovered with Eleanor Zaimis two different actions of the neurotransmitter

acetylcholine Acetylcholine (ACh) is an organic compound that functions in the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of acetic acid and choline. Par ...

; causing muscles to contract, and to increase blood pressure. They found these actions can be separated with two antagonist drugs:

decamethonium Decamethonium (Syncurine) is a depolarizing muscle relaxant or neuromuscular blocking agent, and is used in anesthesia to induce paralytic, paralysis. Pharmacology Decamethonium, which has a short action time, is similar to acetylcholine and ...

to relax muscles which can be used in surgery, while

hexamethonium Hexamethonium is a non-depolarising ganglionic blocker, a neuronal nicotinic ( nAChR) receptor antagonist that acts in autonomic ganglia by binding mostly in or on the nAChR receptor, and not the acetylcholine binding site itself. It does no ...

became the first drug to safely lower blood pressure. In Oxford he set up a research group investigating the pharmacology of

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

with concerns that use would lead to

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...

addiction. At one time he was a member of 72 committees including Chairman of

Research Defence Society The Research Defence Society was a British scientific society and lobby group founded by Stephen Paget in 1908 to fight against the anti-vivisectionist "enemies of reason" at the beginning of the 20th century. At the end of 2008, after being ac ...

and Trustee of the

Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation focused on health research based in London, United Kingdom. It was established in 1936 with legacies from the pharmaceutical magnate Henry Wellcome (founder of Burroughs Wellcome, one of the predec ...

. In 1991 he was awarded the 7th

Gold Medal from the

1984-2005 - 4th statutory chair

A. David Smith Anthony David Smith FMedSci (born 16 September 1938) is a British biochemist and pharmacologist. Smith has spent his entire academic career in the University of Oxford. His research focuses on biochemical changes with disease and prevention. This ...

FMedSci (b. 1938) spent his entire academic career in the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

. His research into biochemical changes with disease and prevention focuses on

dementia Dementia is a syndrome associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by a general decline in cognitive abilities that affects a person's ability to perform activities of daily living, everyday activities. This typically invo ...

. He co-founded the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) which found mild

cognitive impairment Cognitive impairment is an inclusive term to describe any characteristic that acts as a barrier to the cognition process or different areas of cognition. Cognition, also known as cognitive function, refers to the mental processes of how a person ...

can be significantly reduced in over half of cases through treatment with

homocysteine Homocysteine (; symbol Hcy) is a non-proteinogenic α-amino acid. It is a homologous series, homologue of the amino acid cysteine, differing by an additional methylene bridge (). It is biosynthesized from methionine by the removal of its terminal ...

-lowering B vitamins in subjects with a good

omega-3 fatty acid Omega−3 fatty acids, also called omega−3 oils, ω−3 fatty acids or ''n''−3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) characterized by the presence of a double bond three atoms away from the terminal methyl group in their ...

s status. Smith co-founded the International Brain Research Organization's journal

Neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions, and its disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, ...

in 1976 and served as Chief Editor until 2001. As well as Head of Department, Smith was appointed Founding Director of the MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit in 1985 which was associated with the Department of Pharmacology with Associate Director, Peter Somogyi FRS. In 1987 Smith negotiated an agreement with E.R. Squibb & Sons Inc., with a donation of £20 million to create a new larger purpose built building for the department and funding for research into

brain diseases Central nervous system diseases or central nervous system disorders are a group of neurological disorders that affect the structure or function of the brain or spinal cord, which collectively form the central nervous system (CNS). These disorders ...

. Smith included a common room with a café as a communal space.

2006 - 5th statutory chair

Antony Galione FRS is the current holder of this position. Following a BA in Natural Science at

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

from 1989 he worked on the role of calcium oscillations in cell activation in Sir

Michael Berridge Sir Michael John Berridge (22 October 1938 – 13 February 2020) was a British physiologist and biochemist. He was known for his work on cell signaling, in particular the discovery that inositol trisphosphate acts as a second messenger, link ...

's laboratory. After working in UCL on mammalian fertilisation with Michael Whitaker, he went to

Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

as a Harkness Fellow studying the role of calcium signals in early development. In 1991 Galione joined the Department of Pharmacology. He was appointed Professor of Pharmacology in 2002, and elected to the Professorship of Pharmacology in 2006. He served as Head of the Department of Pharmacology from 2006-2015. Galione was elected a Fellow of the

Academy of Medical Sciences The Academy of Medical Sciences is an organisation established in the UK in 1998. It is one of the four UK National Academy, National Academies, the others being the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. Its ...

in 2010 and a Fellow of

The Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, r ...

in 2016 for his work which focuses on calcium signalling.

Scientists

*Trevor B. Heaton

M.D. A Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated MD, from the Latin ) is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the ''MD'' denotes a professional degree of physician. This ge ...

(1886–1972) – Demonstrator 1925–1944; Dr Lee’s Reader in Anatomy at Christ Church College Oxford; wrote ‘The Human Body’ (1927) published by George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd.; research into

Vitamin D Vitamin D is a group of structurally related, fat-soluble compounds responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, along with numerous other biological functions. In humans, the most important compo ...

, actions of

pilocarpine Pilocarpine, sold under the brand name Pilopine HS among others, is a lactone alkaloid originally extracted from plants of the Pilocarpus genus. It is used as a medication to reduce pressure inside the eye and treat dry mouth. As an eye drop ...

and development of

tissue culture Tissue culture is the growth of tissue (biology), tissues or cell (biology), cells in an artificial medium separate from the parent organism. This technique is also called micropropagation. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-s ...

. * Reginald St. A. Heathcote FRCP (1888-1951) – Demonstrator 1920–1922 and research in collaboration with J.A. Gunn into effects of

squill Squill is a common name for several lily-like plants and may refer to: *''Drimia maritima'', medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean, formerly classified as ''Scilla maritima'' *''Scilla'', a genus of plants cultivated for their ornamental fl ...

cobra venom, and the action of

caffeine Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class and is the most commonly consumed Psychoactive drug, psychoactive substance globally. It is mainly used for its eugeroic (wakefulness pr ...

and

theobromine Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of ''Theobroma cacao'' (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water-soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to ...

on the heart; 1st Chair of Pharmacology,

Cairo University Cairo University () is Egypt's premier public university. Its main campus is in Giza, immediately across the Nile from Cairo. It was founded on 21 December 1908;"Brief history and development of Cairo University." Cairo University Faculty of En ...

in 1922; Professor of Pharmacology, in the

University of Wales The University of Wales () is a confederal university based in Cardiff, Wales. Founded by royal charter in 1893 as a federal university with three constituent colleges – Aberystwyth, Bangor and Cardiff – the university was the first universit ...

from 1933. * Kenneth James Franklin FRS (1897–1966) – Following service in the

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

from 1915 he changed from classics to medicine from 1919-1922 at

Hertford College Hertford College ( ), previously known as Magdalen Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on Catte Street in the centre of Oxford, directly opposite the main gate to the Bodleian Library. The colle ...

in Oxford; Demonstrator 1924– 1938 with research into valves and veins in different species, and used techniques of cinematography and radiography to study circulation following visits to Dr Robert Ranker in Bonn in 1926 and 1934, and to M. Pierre Rijlant in Brussels.; study of medical history on circulation with physicians Richard Lower and translated the work of

William Harvey William Harvey (1 April 1578 – 3 June 1657) was an English physician who made influential contributions to anatomy and physiology. He was the first known physician to describe completely, and in detail, pulmonary and systemic circulation ...

* Harry Raymond Ing FRS (1899–1974) – 1st chemist to hold a senior appointment in pharmacology as ‘Lecturer in Pharmacological Chemistry’ in UCL 1929-1938 under E.B Verney with appointment as1st Reader in this subject in 1937; Fellowship in Rockefeller Institute 1938-9; Newly created position of ‘Reader in Pharmacological Chemistry’ (later ‘Reader in Chemical Pharmacology’) in Oxford from 1939-1966 with research focusing on structure-action relationships of drugs including effects of

quaternary ammonium salts In organic chemistry, quaternary ammonium cations, also known as quats, are positively-charged polyatomic ions of the structure , where R is an alkyl group, an aryl group or organyl group. Unlike the ammonium ion () and the primary, secondary, or ...

on nerves, substitutes for

atropine Atropine is a tropane alkaloid and anticholinergic medication used to treat certain types of nerve agent and pesticide poisonings as well as some types of slow heart rate, and to decrease saliva production during surgery. It is typically give ...

during wartime and on the neurotransmitter

; he developed and ran a ‘Chemical Pharmacology’ course from 1945 which was the 1st of its kind in the UK; 1946 - founding of ‘

British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy The ''British Journal of Pharmacology'' is a biweekly peer-reviewed medical journal covering all aspects of experimental pharmacology. It is published for the British Pharmacological Society by Wiley-Blackwell. It was established in 1946 as the '' ...

’ (renamed ‘British Journal of Pharmacology’) and first editor for 7 years. * ‘Hugh’ Hermann Karl Felix Blaschko FRS (1900–1993) - Jewish exile from Germany in 1933 and son of dermatologist and venereologist

Alfred Blaschko Alfred Blaschko (4 March 1858 – 26 March 1922) was a German dermatologist who was a native of Freienwalde an der Oder. In 1881 he earned his medical doctorate at Berlin, and afterwards worked with Georg Wegner (1843–1917) in Stettin. Later h ...

1925–932 – worked in Berlin with Nobel Prize winner

Otto Fritz Meyerhof Otto Fritz Meyerhof (; 12 April 1884 – 6 October 1951) was a German physician and biochemist who won the 1922 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine. Biography Otto Fritz Meyerhof was born in Hannover, at Theaterplatz 16A (now:Rathenaustrasse ...

; 1933 worked with Nobel Prize winner A.V. Hill OBE FRS in UCL who set up the Academic Assistance Council (Meyerhof had previously sent Blaschko to work with Hill from 1929–1930 with whom he shared the Nobel prize); 1934 worked with Sir Joseph Barcroft in

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

who asked him how is adrenaline destroyed.; 1944-1967 - Oxford including ‘Reader in Biochemical Pharmacology’; 1989 – awarded 6th

Gold Medal with

Wilhelm Feldberg Wilhelm Siegmund Feldberg (19 November 1900 – 23 October 1993) was a German-British physiologist and biologist. Biography Feldberg was born in Hamburg to a wealthy middle class Jewish family. He studied medicine at Heidelberg, Munich and ...

Blaschko discovered how

is made in the body, stored in cells and how it is destroyed in the body. His research contributed to the development of drugs used in clinical medicine to treat diseases such as depression,

hypertension Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...

, and

Parkinson's Disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

FRS (1903-1990) – Jewish exile from Germany in 1933; 1928–1933 – working with Professor of Pharmacology, Paul Trendelberg in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

where she met

Marthe Vogt Marthe Louise Vogt (September 8, 1903 – September 9, 2003) was a German scientist recognized as one of the leading neuroscientists of the twentieth century. She is mainly remembered for her important contributions to the understanding of t ...

; 1933-1937 worked with J.H. Burn at the

Pharmaceutical Society The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPharmS or RPS) is the body responsible for the leadership and support of the pharmacy profession (pharmacists) within England, Scotland, and Wales. It was created along with the General Pharmaceutical Council ...

, Bloomsbury Square on biological standardisation; 1937–1949 - Demonstrator in Oxford with J.H. Burn and research including into

and

; 1949 – 8 months in Detlev Bronk’s biophysics laboratory at John Hopkin’s University; 1950-1971 – Oxford leading her own research group on physiology of

smooth muscle Smooth muscle is one of the three major types of vertebrate muscle tissue, the others being skeletal and cardiac muscle. It can also be found in invertebrates and is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. It is non- striated, so-called bec ...

involving around 40 scientists including Gustav Jacob Born, Alison Brading; 1958 – 14th e lected woman Fellow of the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

; 1967–1971 – Professorship.; 1985 - awarded 4th

Gold Medal Bülbring pioneered smooth muscle physiology. *

Geoffrey S. Dawes Geoffrey Sharman Dawes (21 January 1918 – 6 May 1996) was an English physiologist and was considered to be the foremost international authority on fetal and neonatal physiology.FRS (1918-1996) – Part-time Demonstrator 1944–1947; worked on military-related projects with J.H. Burn including treatment of

gas gangrene Gas gangrene (also known as clostridial myonecrosis) is a bacterial infection that produces tissue gas in gangrene. This deadly form of gangrene usually is caused by '' Clostridium perfringens'' bacteria. About 1,000 cases of gas gangrene are r ...

and

substitutes for treating nerve gas exposure; 1946 - awarded a Rockefeller Travelling Fellowship for the Pharmacology Department in

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

; 1947 -awarded a

Foulerton Research Fellowship; 1948–1985 - appointed Director of the Nuffield Institute of Medical Research; focus on foetal physiology. Sir John Vane completed his D.Phil. in 1953 under supervision by Dawes. * (Edward)

Miles Vaughan Williams (Edward) Miles Vaughan Williams (8 August 1918 – 31 August 2016) was a British cardiac pharmacologist and academic. He is best known for the Vaughan Williams classification of antidysrhythmic drugs. From 1955 to 1985, he was a Fellow of Hertfor ...

(1918-2016) – Part-time Demonstrator 1946–1983; previously studied classics in

Wadham College Wadham College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located in the centre of Oxford, at the intersection of Broad Street and Parks Road. Wadham College was founded in 1610 by Dorothy Wadham, a ...

and changed to medicine from 1942. including being taught in the Pharmacology Department from 1944; 1955 – first full-time science Fellow of

His research focused on physiology of the heart and prevention of life-threatening heart attacks through drugs. He became one of the first pharmacologists to work on actions of

beta blocker Beta blockers, also spelled β-blockers, are a class of medications that are predominantly used to manage abnormal heart rhythms ( arrhythmia), and to protect the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack ( secondary prevention ...

s. including propafenone and cibenzoline He developed the first widely used classification system for antidysrhythmic drugs, known as the

Vaughan Williams classification Antiarrhythmic agents, also known as cardiac dysrhythmia medications, are a class of drugs that are used to suppress abnormally fast rhythms (tachycardias), such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia. M ...

. *

Gustav Victor Rudolf Born Gustav Victor Rudolf Born FRCP, HonFRCS, FRS (29 July 1921 – 16 April 2018) was a German-British professor of Pharmacology at King's College London and Research Professor at the William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London Schoo ...

FRS (1921 2018) – Jewish exile from Germany in 1933; 1945 – worked in Mumbai which included visiting Hiroshima as a pathologist and observed radiation-induced damage to bone marrow resulting in bleeding through an inability to produce

platelet Platelets or thrombocytes () are a part of blood whose function (along with the coagulation#Coagulation factors, coagulation factors) is to react to bleeding from blood vessel injury by clumping to form a thrombus, blood clot. Platelets have no ...

s;1953-1960 - Demonstrator in Oxford and contributed to practical classes and collaborate with

on the physiology and pharmacology of smooth muscle, with

Geoffrey S. Dawes Geoffrey Sharman Dawes (21 January 1918 – 6 May 1996) was an English physiologist and was considered to be the foremost international authority on fetal and neonatal physiology.serotonin Serotonin (), also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a monoamine neurotransmitter with a wide range of functions in both the central nervous system (CNS) and also peripheral tissues. It is involved in mood, cognition, reward, learning, ...

and

s. He became lifelong friends with Sir John Robert Vane; 1960–1973 – appointed Professor of Pharmacology,

. Born made fundamental contributions to the study of platelets which paved the way for modern antiplatelet therapy. Born was awarded the 16th

Gold Medal. Pamela Holton and JH Burn 1952

*Pamela Margaret Holton (1923-1977) – 1946-1948 – research student with J.H. Burn working on standardisation of hormones affecting

pancreatic The pancreas (plural pancreases, or pancreata) is an organ of the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates. In humans, it is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and functions as a gland. The pancreas is a mixed or heterocrine ...

secretion, on

and

, collaborated with chemist Ing and Blaschko; 1949–1955 – Physiological Laboratory in Cambridge; 1955–1977 – Lecturer at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School with research into gastric blood flow. * Oleh Hornykiewicz (1926-2020) - 1956-1958 –

British Council The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lang ...

scholarship to work with Blaschko on the cardiovascular effects of

dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. It is an amine synthesized ...

. He credited Blaschko for his advice to study dopamine; 1967-1992 - Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology,

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

; first suggested a link between a lack of dopamine and onset of Parkinson’s disease and played a key role in the development of

L-dopa -DOPA, also known as -3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and used medically as levodopa, is made and used as part of the normal biology of some plants and animals, including humans. Humans, as well as a portion of the other animals that utilize -DO ...

in managing the disorder. * Sir John Vane 1952

Sir John Robert Vane FRS (1927-2004); 1944 - chemistry degree at the

University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

; 1946-1949 - student in pharmacology in Oxford under J.H. Burn with research into

and

paludrine Proguanil, also known as chlorguanide and chloroguanide, is a medication used to treat and prevent malaria. It is often used together with chloroquine or atovaquone. When used with chloroquine the combination will treat mild chloroquine resist ...

; 1949-1953 – doctorate with

Dawes Dawes may refer to: Places Australia *Dawes (Parish), New South Wales *Dawes Point, New South Wales Untied States *Dawes Arboretum, in Newark, Ohio *Dawes County, Nebraska *Dawes Township, Thurston County, Nebraska Other uses * Dawes (band), ...

in the Nuffield Institute; 1953-1955 – Assistant Professor under chairman Arnold D. Welch,

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

; from 1955 – Senior Lecturer of Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,

working under Sir William Paton and Gustav Born. Vane’s research was instrumental in understanding how

aspirin Aspirin () is the genericized trademark for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, and as an antithrombotic. Specific inflammatory conditions that aspirin is ...

produces pain-relief and anti-inflammatory effects which led to new treatments for heart disease and the introduction of

ACE inhibitor Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) are a class of medication used primarily for the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure. This class of medicine works by causing relaxation of blood vessels as well as a decr ...

s. He was awarded the 9th

Gold Medal and the

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine () is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, acco ...

in 1982 with

Sune Bergström Karl Sune Detlof Bergström (10 January 1916 – 15 August 2004) was a Swedish biochemist. In 1975, he was appointed to the Nobel Foundation Board of Directors in Sweden, and was awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University, t ...

and

Bengt Samuelsson Bengt Ingemar Samuelsson (21 May 1934 – 5 July 2024) was a Swedish biochemist. He shared with Sune K. Bergström and John R. Vane the 1982 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related substance ...

for ''“their discoveries concerning

prostaglandin Prostaglandins (PG) are a group of physiology, physiologically active lipid compounds called eicosanoids that have diverse hormone-like effects in animals. Prostaglandins have been found in almost every Tissue (biology), tissue in humans and ot ...

s and related biological substances”''. *

Geoffrey Burnstock Geoffrey Burnstock (10 May 1929 – 2 June 2020) was a neurobiologist and President of the Autonomic Neuroscience Centre of the UCL Medical School. He is best known for coining the term purinergic signalling, which he discovered in the 197 ...

FRS (1929-2020); 1957-1959 – postdoctoral research with Bülbring on the pharmacology of

and

in controlling

; 1959 -

Melbourne University The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state of Victoria. Its ...

, Australia where he introduced the idea that ATP may act as a co-transmitter (

purinergic receptor Purinergic receptors, also known as purinoceptors, are a family of plasma membrane molecules that are found in almost all mammalian tissues. Within the field of purinergic signalling, these receptors have been implicated in learning and memory, ...

s as membrane receptors) which led to the development of important drugs, including

clopidogrel Clopidogrel, sold under the brand name Plavix among others, is an antiplatelet drug, antiplatelet medication used to reduce the risk of Cardiovascular disease, heart disease and stroke in those at high risk. It is also used together with aspi ...

, used as an

anticoagulant An anticoagulant, commonly known as a blood thinner, is a chemical substance that prevents or reduces the coagulation of blood, prolonging the clotting time. Some occur naturally in blood-eating animals, such as leeches and mosquitoes, which ...

in cardiovascular disease. * Ranjit Roy Chaudhury (1930-2015) – 1955-1958 (

Rhodes scholar The Rhodes Scholarship is an international Postgraduate education, postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom. The scholarship is open to people from all backgrounds around the world. Esta ...

) doctorate in Pharmacology with John M. Walker; led the National Committee for formulating the policy and guidelines on drugs and clinical trials in India and chairman of the joint programme of

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...

. * Alison Brading (1939-2011) – after recovering from

polio Poliomyelitis ( ), commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 75% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe ...

, gained a degree in zoology and PhD. in the

University of Bristol The University of Bristol is a public university, public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Br ...

; 1965-1968 - joined Edith Bülbring’s research group focusing on

; 1972-2005 - Fellow of

Lady Margaret Hall Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England, located on a bank of the River Cherwell at Norham Gardens in north Oxford and adjacent to the University Parks. The college is more formally known under ...

;1972-1995 - Lecturer in Pharmacology; 1996 – Professor in Pharmacology. Her research focussed on

which controls contraction of the bladder and urethra and the importance of K⁺ ion channels. This led to the study of drugs to help with incontinence. Brading led the Oxford Continence Group in collaboration with urology surgeons. * Peter Somogyi FRS (born 1950) – 1977-1978 – Demonstrator in pharmacology in Oxford supervised by

; 1978-1979 –

Research Fellow; 1985–2015 - Associate, then Director of MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Oxford; research into how brain centres are organised structurally including cell types and locating signalling molecules in

synapse In the nervous system, a synapse is a structure that allows a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or a target effector cell. Synapses can be classified as either chemical or electrical, depending o ...

s which together he calls the ‘chronocircuit’ allowing rapid response to changes in the environment. * Baroness

Susan Greenfield Susan Adele Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield, (born 1 October 1950) is an English scientist, writer, broadcaster and member of the House of Lords (since 2001). Her research has focused on the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's dise ...

(b.1950) – 1973–1977 - Doctorate and MRC Research Fellowship in pharmacology in Oxford supervised by

on the origins of

acetylcholinesterase Acetylcholinesterase (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, HGNC symbol ACHE; EC 3.1.1.7; systematic name acetylcholine acetylhydrolase), also known as AChE, AChase or acetylhydrolase, is the primary cholinesterase in the body. It is an enzyme th ...

cerebrospinal fluid Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless Extracellular fluid#Transcellular fluid, transcellular body fluid found within the meninges, meningeal tissue that surrounds the vertebrate brain and spinal cord, and in the ventricular system, ven ...

; 1977–1978 – J.H. Burn Trust Scholarship; 1985–1996 – Lecturer in Synaptic Pharmacology; 1996-2011 – Professor of Pharmacology; 2011-2013 – Senior Research Fellow; research into treatment of

Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

and Parkinson’s Disease; co-founded biotech company Neuro-bio Ltd.; 1998 - 2001 Director of the

Royal Institution The Royal Institution of Great Britain (often the Royal Institution, Ri or RI) is an organisation for scientific education and research, based in the City of Westminster. It was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, inc ...

; 2001 - member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

Notable visitors

*Arnold D. Welch (1908–2003) – 1952–1953 – worked with Blaschko on storage of

in the

adrenal gland The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. They are found above the kidneys. Each gland has an outer adrenal corte ...

, which led to an understanding of how several important drugs produce actions including

reserpine Reserpine is a drug that is used for the treatment of hypertension, high blood pressure, usually in combination with a thiazide diuretic or vasodilator. Large clinical trials have shown that combined treatment with reserpine plus a thiazide diur ...

used for treating high blood pressure and

schizophrenia Schizophrenia () is a mental disorder characterized variously by hallucinations (typically, Auditory hallucination#Schizophrenia, hearing voices), delusions, thought disorder, disorganized thinking and behavior, and Reduced affect display, f ...

; 1953–1967 – established Department of Pharmacology,

; president of the

Squibb Squibb is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * David Squibb (1935–2010), British conductor * E. R. Squibb (1819–1900), American physician, inventor, and pharmaceutical company founder * Geoff Squibb (born 1946), Australian poli ...

Institute for Medical Research, which resulted in the development of Captropril, the first of many

s; at the age of 75 years coordinator of the National Cooperative Discovery Groups of the

National Cancer Institute The National Cancer Institute (NCI) coordinates the United States National Cancer Program and is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of eleven agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ...

. * Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin FRS (1910–1994) – pioneered the use of

crystallography Crystallography is the branch of science devoted to the study of molecular and crystalline structure and properties. The word ''crystallography'' is derived from the Ancient Greek word (; "clear ice, rock-crystal"), and (; "to write"). In J ...

to map the structures of

penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of beta-lactam antibiotic, β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' Mold (fungus), moulds, principally ''Penicillium chrysogenum, P. chrysogenum'' and ''Penicillium rubens, P. ru ...

insulin Insulin (, from Latin ''insula'', 'island') is a peptide hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets encoded in humans by the insulin (''INS)'' gene. It is the main Anabolism, anabolic hormone of the body. It regulates the metabol ...

, and vitamin B₁₂; 1947 – elected 5th woman Fellow to the

; 1962 - Hodgkin was offered space by

Burn A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ionizing radiation (such as sunburn, caused by ultraviolet radiation). Most burns are due to heat from hot fluids (called scalding), soli ...

and later Paton in the basement of Pharmacology for a crystallography room which was adapted with funding from the Royal Society; 1964 – Hodgkin received the

Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...

in Chemistry and she remains Britain’s only female Nobel Prize winner in science. * Alan William Cuthbert FRS (1932-2016) –

who invited him to undertake some

sucrose gap The sucrose gap technique is used to create a conduction block in nerve or muscle fibers. A high concentration of sucrose is applied to the extracellular space, which prevents the correct opening and closing of sodium and potassium channels, increa ...

experiments in her laboratory in Oxford. Whilst there Cuthbert met

Arnold Burgen Sir Arnold Stanley Vincent Burgen Royal Society, FRS (20 March 1922 – 26 May 2022) was a British physician, pharmacologist, academic and university administrator. He was Master of Darwin College, Cambridge, from 1982–89, Deputy Vice-Chancel ...

, a pharmacologist visiting from Canada, who became the second Sheild Professor at Cambridge in 1962. This contact with Burgen led Alan to apply for, and secure, a Demonstratorship in the Department of Pharmacology at the

in 1963; 1979 –1999 - Head of Department of Pharmacology,

. He carried out ground-breaking work on

epithelia Epithelium or epithelial tissue is a thin, continuous, protective layer of cells with little extracellular matrix. An example is the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Epithelial ( mesothelial) tissues line the outer surfaces of many ...

l ion transport, and later on ion transport deficits that underlie

cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner that impairs the normal clearance of Sputum, mucus from the lungs, which facilitates the colonization and infection of the lungs by bacteria, notably ''Staphy ...

. Cuthbert was awarded the 14th

Gold Medal. *

Leslie Iversen Leslie Lars Iversen (31 October 1937 – 30 July 2020), was a British pharmacologist, known for his work on the neurochemistry of neurotransmission. Early life Of Norwegian descent, Iversen attended Hele's School, Exeter, and Trinity ...

FRS (1937-2020) – Visiting Professor of Neuropharmacology 1995-2020; 1970–1983 - Director of MRC Neurochemical Pharmacology Unit,

; 1983–1995 – Founding Director of Merck, Sharp & Dohme Neuroscience Research Centre,

Harlow Harlow is a town and local government district located in the west of Essex, England. Founded as a Planned community, new town in 1947, it is situated on the border with Hertfordshire, and occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the ...

. He made seminal discoveries including characterization of

neurotransmitter A neurotransmitter is a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a Chemical synapse, synapse. The cell receiving the signal, or target cell, may be another neuron, but could also be a gland or muscle cell. Neurotra ...

uptake mechanisms, which paved the way for the development of a new class of drug in widespread use, the

antidepressant Antidepressants are a class of medications used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and addiction. Common side effects of antidepressants include Xerostomia, dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, akathi ...

s. He pioneered the

neuropeptide Neuropeptides are chemical messengers made up of small chains of amino acids that are synthesized and released by neurons. Neuropeptides typically bind to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate neural activity and other tissues like the ...

transmitter field, helping develop understanding of the mechanisms of neurotransmitter action. His work for the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Lords as a scientific advisor on a report on

in 1998 led him to write about medicinal and drugs of abuse and later chaired the

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is a British statutory advisory non-departmental public body, which was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Mandate Its terms of reference, according to the Act, are as follows: ...

at the Home Office. Iversen was awarded the 13th

Gold Medal.

Heads of department

* 1898 - 1908 – William John Smith Jerome * 1912 - 1937 – James Andrew Gunn * 1937 - 1959 –

FRS * 1959 - 1984 – Sir William Drummond Macdonald Paton FRS * 1984 - 2000 –

* 2000 - 2005 –

Edith Sim Edith Sim is a British researcher who is an emeritus professor at Kingston University and the University of Oxford. She was awarded the 2012 British Pharmacological Society John Vane Medal and a lifetime achievement award in 2015 from the Arylam ...

* 2006 - 2015 – Antony Giuseppe Galione FRS * 2015 - 2020 – Nigel Emptage * 2020 - Frances Mary Platt FRS

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pharmacology, Department of, University of Oxford Departments of the University of Oxford Pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom