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Jan Bureš

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MUDr. Jan Bureš, DrSc., dr. h. c.
BornJune 13 1926
Čtyři Dvory (near České Budějovice)
DiedAugust 24, 2012(2012-08-24) (aged 86)
Prague
Resting placePodolí Cemetery in Prague
CitizenshipCzech
Alma materCharles University
Known formemory research
PartnerOlga Burešová
ChildrenOlga Štěpánková
Awards1992 - Doctor honoris causa, University of Lethbridge, Canada

1995 - Member, US National Academy of Sciences

2000 - Member, Polish Academy of Sciences
Scientific career
Fieldsneurophysiology, electrophysiology
InstitutionsCzech Academy of Sciences
Notable studentsAndré Fenton, Lynn Nadel, Ian Q. Whishaw

Jan Bureš (June 13, 1926 Čtyři Dvory – August 24, 2012 Prague) was a world-renowned Czech neurophysiologist and electrophysiologist, an expert on memory and other neurological phenomena, recipient of many Czech and foreign awards, member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the most cited Czech scientist in the field of neuroscience.[1]

Biography

Jan Bureš was born on June 13, 1926[2] in Čtyři Dvory near České Budějovice.

He applied to the 1st Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague.[2] However, he did not want to devote himself to clinical practice, but to research. During his studies, he married fellow student Olga Komorádová, who was two years older, and in 1949 they had a daughter, Olga, who later became an important expert in the field of cybernetics[3]. After finishing his studies in 1950, he stayed in Prague and joined the laboratory of prof. Zdeněk Servít at the Czech Academy of Sciences, where he started his scientific career.[2] He subsequently spent his entire working life in this institution. Already in the sixties, he became one of the most respected workers there.[4] He went to many conferences around the world, stayed in the Soviet Union and USA.[2]

In seventies he had political problems with the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Subsequently, he was only allowed to work at the institute on the basis of one- to two-year contracts, which were always extended at the last minute, he traveled abroad to a minimum and was strictly supervised. His closest and most important scientific collaborator was his wife Olga, who was the co-author of a considerable number of his publications. At this time, however, he was allowed to accept a large number of foreign interns who traveled specially to see him in Czechoslovakia, and thus he educated a relatively large number of young neuroscientists from all corners of the world (over 100 interns from 27 countries)[5] - both Western and Eastern;[2] his Prague laboratory became an important scientific crossroads.[6] Many of them became wellknown neuroscientists (e. g. André Fenton, Lynn Nadel, Ian Q. Whishaw). In addition, he also published extensively in scientific journals.[7]

After the Velvet Revolution, he again rose to the position of one of the most respected Czech scientists, which was confirmed by the large number of distinguished awards he received; he was also a member of many professional organizations and associations. He remained scientifically active until his 80s.[2]

Unfortunately, he developed Alzheimer's disease and his health rapidly deteriorated. He lived in the care of his family and died on August 24, 2012 in Prague at the age of 86. After his death, a number of obituaries followed, highly appreciating his contribution to world science and calling him one of the founding fathers of modern electrophysiology.[8]

Scientific work

Jan Bureš gradually dealt mainly with the issues of spreading cortical depression, reflex epilepsy, conditioned taste aversion and spatial memory. One of the most important book publications in which he participated with his colleagues was the title "Electrophysiological Methods in Biological Research". First published in 1960,[9] this book has been regarded as a reference by many electrophysiologists worldwide and has seen several reprints. He also contributed to more than three hundred books and articles,[10] thanks to which, according to the renowned website Research.com, he is the most cited Czech neuroscientist with a D-Index of 62 (assessment within a specific discipline) and more than 11,000 citations.[1]

Jan Bureš in 1995 when taking over membership in the US National Academy of Sciences

Awards and comments

The Dr. Jan Bureš Award is awarded every year in the Czech Republic for research into Alzheimer's disease.[16]

Every year, the Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences organizes a series of lectures by world-renowned scientific personalities from the field under the name Bureš lectures.[17]

  • Jan Bureš with his colleagues
    Jan Bureš with his colleagues
  • Jan Bureš working
    Jan Bureš working


References

  1. ^ a b https://research.com/u/jan-bures
  2. ^ a b c d e f g https://www.sfn.org/-/media/SfN/Documents/TheHistoryofNeuroscience/Volume-4/c3.pdf
  3. ^ "Olga Štěpánková". BEAT | Biomedical engineering and assistive technology. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  4. ^ "Academy of Europe: Bures Jan". www.ae-info.org. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  5. ^ Fenton, Andre'; Nadel, Lynn (2012). "Professor Jan Bureš". Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 211: A1. doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2012.09.023.
  6. ^ https://www.docenti.unina.it/#!/professor/4d415249414d494e494143494d4e434d524137304d34344333353254/attivita_ricerca
  7. ^ "Jan Bures - NeL.edu". www.nel.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  8. ^ https://www.american.edu/cas/psychology/cta/upload/jan-bures-obit.pdf
  9. ^ "Electrophysiological Methods in Biological Research - 3rd Edition | Elsevier Shop". shop.elsevier.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  10. ^ https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Jan-Bures-2120252582
  11. ^ https://www.ulethbridge.ca/sites/default/files/2021/08/uofl_honorary_degree_recipients_sept_2021.pdf
  12. ^ "Jan Bures". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  13. ^ https://pan.pl/czlonkowie/bures_jan
  14. ^ "Awarded The Jan Evangelista Purkyně Honorary Medals for Merit in the Biomedical Sciences - Akademie věd České republiky". www.avcr.cz. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  15. ^ "Jan Bures (1926 - 2012) in memoriam". Federation of European Neuroscience Societies. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  16. ^ "Cena MUDr. Jana Bureše, zaměřená na problematiku Alzheimerovy nemoci | 2. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy". www.lf2.cuni.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  17. ^ "INSTITUTE OF PHYSIOLOGY CAS - Bureš lecture series". www.fgu.cas.cz. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
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