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{{Short description|British-Australian neuroscientist}}
'''Geoffrey Burnstock''' is Professor and President of the Autonomic Neuroscience Centre
{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
[[Royal Free and University College Medical School]]. He played a key role in the discovery of ATP as neurotransmitter.<ref>http://molinterv.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/4/4/192</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Geoffrey Burnstock
|honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AC|FAA|FRS}}
|image = Geoffrey Burnstock.png
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1929|05|10}}
|birth_place = [[London]], England
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|6|2|1929|05|10}}
|death_place = [[Melbourne]], Victoria, Australia
|nationality = Australian
|ethnicity =
|fields = [[Purinergic signalling]]
|workplaces = [[UCL Medical School]]
|alma_mater = [[King's College London]]<br />[[University College London]]
|doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for =
|awards = [[Royal Medal]] (2000)<br />[[Fellow of the Royal Society|FRS]] (1986)
|religion =
|signature = <!--(filename only)-->
|footnotes =
| children = [[Aviva Burnstock]]
}}

'''Geoffrey Burnstock''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC|FAA|FRS|FBPhS|FMedSci}} (10 May 1929 &ndash; 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 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lewis Wolpert|title=Lewis Wolpert: The Sceptical Inquirer|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/lewis-wolpert-the-sceptical-inquirer-305005.html|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=29 November 2013|date=10 August 2005|quote=He coined the term "purinergic signalling" in 1972 in a key paper that has since been cited more than 2,000 times by other key scientists.}}</ref> He retired in October 2017 at the age of 88.

== Life and career ==

Burnstock was educated at [[Greenford High School|Greenford County School]], [[King's College London]] (BSc, 1953) and at [[University College London]] (PhD, 1957). He played a key role in the discovery of ATP as neurotransmitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clockss.org/triggered-content/molecular-interventions/|title=Molecular Interventions|accessdate=25 June 2023}}</ref> He was appointed to a Senior Lectureship in Melbourne University in 1959 and became Professor and Chairman of Zoology in 1964.

In 1975, he became Head of Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at UCL and Convenor of the Center of Neuroscience. He has been Director of the Autonomic Neuroscience Institute at the [[Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine]] since 1997. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 1971, the Royal Society<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=North|first1=R. Alan|last2=Costa|first2=Marcello|date=2021|title=Geoffrey Burnstock. 10 May 1929—3 June 2020|journal=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society|volume=71|pages=37–58 |doi=10.1098/rsbm.2021.0016 |s2cid=237154763 |doi-access=free}}</ref> in 1986, the International Academy of Science, Munich, the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1998 and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians in 1999 and 2000. He was awarded the Royal Society Gold Medal in 2000. Within his research field, he has been recognised through appointments as the first president of the [[International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience]] and his role as editor in chief of the scientific journal [[Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the society |url=http://autonomicneuroscience.info/ISAN/History.html |work=Official website |publisher=International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience |access-date=24 April 2014 |archive-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606233946/http://autonomicneuroscience.info/ISAN/History.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last=Koizumi |first=K. |author2=Vassalle, M. |title=Chandler McCluskey Brooks |journal=Biographical Memoirs |volume=91 |series=Office of the Home Secretary, National Academy of Sciences, National Academies Press |page=67 |url=http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/brooks-chandler-mcc.pdf}}</ref>

He supervised over 100 PhD and MD students and published over 1400 original papers, reviews and books. He was first in the Institute of Scientific Information list of most cited scientists in Pharmacology and Toxicology from 1994–2004.

Burnstock was editor-in-chief of the ''[[Purinergic Signalling (journal)|Purinergic Signalling]]'' journal.<ref name="ICPS">{{cite web|title=Geoffrey Burnstock|url=http://www.iups2013.org/scientific-programme/prize-and-keynote-lectures/geoffrey-burnstock|publisher=International Congress of Physiological Sciences|access-date=4 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203041100/http://www.iups2013.org/scientific-programme/prize-and-keynote-lectures/geoffrey-burnstock|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was an atheist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ani/Prof/Most%20Highly%20Cited%20Scientist.pdf |title=Interview with Geoffrey Burnstock|date=August 2004
|website=ucl.ac.uk|access-date=25 June 2023}}</ref>

Burnstock was awarded the 2017 Australian Academy of Science's [[Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture|Macfarlane Burnet Medal]] in recognition of his outstanding scientific research in the biological science.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/macfarlane-burnet-medal-awarded-smooth-muscle-man|title=Macfarlane Burnet Medal awarded to 'Smooth Muscle Man' {{!}} Australian Academy of Science|website=www.science.org.au|access-date=2017-10-04}}</ref>

He died on 2 June 2020 at the age of 91.<ref name="guardianobit">{{cite news |title=Geoffrey Burnstock obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jun/19/geoffrey-burnstock-obituary |access-date=16 July 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=19 June 2020 }}</ref>

== Legacy ==

His lasting work with ATP-related signalling was first published in the 1970s, which led to a rapid surge in interest in the field and subsequently made him the most cited scientist in pharmacology and toxicology for several years during the 2000s. Much of our understanding of [[purinergic signalling]] and the current classification of [[purinergic receptor]]s is attributed to the work of Burnstock.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Di Virgilio|first=F.|title=Purines, Purinergic Receptors, and Cancer|journal=[[Cancer Research (journal)|Cancer Research]]|date=22 October 2012|volume=72|issue=21|pages=5441–5447|doi=10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-1600|url=http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/72/21/5441.long|quote=Indeed, we owe our present understanding of purinergic signaling and the current classification of P2 receptors to Geoff Burnstock's stubborn activity and enthusiasm|pmid=23090120|doi-access=free}}</ref> He was the founding president of the [[International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience]].

According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Burnstock is recognised as "''the scientist who brought [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]] into the realm of brain research.''"<ref>{{cite web|author=Sandra Blakeslee|author-link=Sandra Blakeslee|title=Finding a New Messenger for the Brain's Signals to the Body|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/11/science/finding-a-new-messenger-for-the-brain-s-signals-to-the-body.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=29 November 2013|date=11 August 1992}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Gefapixant]], a first-in-class [[P2RX3]] receptor blocker named in honour of Burnstock.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ford |first1=Anthony P. |last2=Dillon |first2=Michael P. |last3=Kitt |first3=Michael M. |last4=Gever |first4=Joel R. |title=The discovery and development of gefapixant |journal=Autonomic Neuroscience |date=November 2021 |volume=235 |pages=102859 |doi=10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102859|pmid=34403981 |s2cid=236524967 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/professor-geoffrey-burnstock 2008 Australian Academy of Science interview]
*{{cite news |last1=Telegraph Obituaries |title=Professor Geoffrey Burnstock, overcame hostility to prove his theory of nerves – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/06/14/professor-geoffrey-burnstock-overcame-hostility-prove-theory/ |work=The Telegraph |date=14 June 2020}}
*{{cite news |last1=Ferry |first1=Georgina |title=Geoffrey Burnstock obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jun/19/geoffrey-burnstock-obituary |work=The Guardian |date=19 June 2020}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Verkhratsky |first1=Alexei |last2=Zimmermann |first2=Herbert |last3=Abbracchio |first3=Maria P |last4=Illes |first4=Peter |last5=DiVirgilio |first5=Francesco |title=In Memoriam Geoffrey Burnstock: Creator of Purinergic Signaling |journal=Function |date=1 January 2020 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=zqaa006 |doi=10.1093/function/zqaa006|hdl=2434/797377 |hdl-access=free }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Abbracchio |first1=Maria P. |last2=Jacobson |first2=Kenneth A. |last3=Müller |first3=Christa E. |last4=Zimmermann |first4=Herbert |title=Professor Dr. Geoffrey Burnstock (1929–2020) |journal=Purinergic Signalling |date=June 2020 |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=137–149 |doi=10.1007/s11302-020-09709-y|hdl=2434/797379 |s2cid=220295221 |hdl-access=free }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Abbracchio |first1=Maria P. |title=Perspectives on Geoff Burnstock as researcher, teacher and friend |journal=Biochemical Pharmacology |date=May 2021 |volume=187 |pages=114395 |doi=10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114395|pmid=33382971 |s2cid=229943176 }}

⚫
==External links==
*[https://www.ucl.ac.uk/biosciences/people/burnstock-geoff UCL site]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000k2c8 The Last Word (BBC Radio 4)] obituary


{{FRS 1986}}
<references/>
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Burnstock, Geoffrey}}
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==External Links==
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's College London]]
[[Category:Alumni of University College London]]
[[Category:Academics of University College London]]
[[Category:Academics of University College London]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Royal Medal winners]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science]]
[[Category:Australian atheists]]
[[Category:Australian neuroscientists]]

Latest revision as of 12:11, 25 September 2024

Geoffrey Burnstock
AC FAA FRS
Born(1929-05-10)10 May 1929
London, England
Died2 June 2020(2020-06-02) (aged 91)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma materKing's College London
University College London
ChildrenAviva Burnstock
AwardsRoyal Medal (2000)
FRS (1986)
Scientific career
FieldsPurinergic signalling
InstitutionsUCL Medical School

Geoffrey Burnstock AC FAA FRS FMedSci (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 1970s.[1] He retired in October 2017 at the age of 88.

Life and career

[edit]

Burnstock was educated at Greenford County School, King's College London (BSc, 1953) and at University College London (PhD, 1957). He played a key role in the discovery of ATP as neurotransmitter.[2] He was appointed to a Senior Lectureship in Melbourne University in 1959 and became Professor and Chairman of Zoology in 1964.

In 1975, he became Head of Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at UCL and Convenor of the Center of Neuroscience. He has been Director of the Autonomic Neuroscience Institute at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine since 1997. He was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 1971, the Royal Society[3] in 1986, the International Academy of Science, Munich, the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1998 and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians in 1999 and 2000. He was awarded the Royal Society Gold Medal in 2000. Within his research field, he has been recognised through appointments as the first president of the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience and his role as editor in chief of the scientific journal Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical.[4][5]

He supervised over 100 PhD and MD students and published over 1400 original papers, reviews and books. He was first in the Institute of Scientific Information list of most cited scientists in Pharmacology and Toxicology from 1994–2004.

Burnstock was editor-in-chief of the Purinergic Signalling journal.[6] He was an atheist.[7]

Burnstock was awarded the 2017 Australian Academy of Science's Macfarlane Burnet Medal in recognition of his outstanding scientific research in the biological science.[8]

He died on 2 June 2020 at the age of 91.[9]

Legacy

[edit]

His lasting work with ATP-related signalling was first published in the 1970s, which led to a rapid surge in interest in the field and subsequently made him the most cited scientist in pharmacology and toxicology for several years during the 2000s. Much of our understanding of purinergic signalling and the current classification of purinergic receptors is attributed to the work of Burnstock.[10] He was the founding president of the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience.

According to The New York Times, Burnstock is recognised as "the scientist who brought ATP into the realm of brain research."[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lewis Wolpert (10 August 2005). "Lewis Wolpert: The Sceptical Inquirer". The Independent. Retrieved 29 November 2013. He coined the term "purinergic signalling" in 1972 in a key paper that has since been cited more than 2,000 times by other key scientists.
  2. ^ "Molecular Interventions". Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  3. ^ North, R. Alan; Costa, Marcello (2021). "Geoffrey Burnstock. 10 May 1929—3 June 2020". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 71: 37–58. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2021.0016. S2CID 237154763.
  4. ^ "History of the society". Official website. International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  5. ^ Koizumi, K.; Vassalle, M. "Chandler McCluskey Brooks" (PDF). Biographical Memoirs. Office of the Home Secretary, National Academy of Sciences, National Academies Press. 91: 67.
  6. ^ "Geoffrey Burnstock". International Congress of Physiological Sciences. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Interview with Geoffrey Burnstock" (PDF). ucl.ac.uk. August 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Macfarlane Burnet Medal awarded to 'Smooth Muscle Man' | Australian Academy of Science". www.science.org.au. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Geoffrey Burnstock obituary". The Guardian. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  10. ^ Di Virgilio, F. (22 October 2012). "Purines, Purinergic Receptors, and Cancer". Cancer Research. 72 (21): 5441–5447. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-1600. PMID 23090120. Indeed, we owe our present understanding of purinergic signaling and the current classification of P2 receptors to Geoff Burnstock's stubborn activity and enthusiasm
  11. ^ Sandra Blakeslee (11 August 1992). "Finding a New Messenger for the Brain's Signals to the Body". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  12. ^ Ford, Anthony P.; Dillon, Michael P.; Kitt, Michael M.; Gever, Joel R. (November 2021). "The discovery and development of gefapixant". Autonomic Neuroscience. 235: 102859. doi:10.1016/j.autneu.2021.102859. PMID 34403981. S2CID 236524967.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
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