David Gadsby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David C. Gadsby
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| Born |
David Christopher Gadsby
26 March 1947 |
| Died | 9 March 2019 (aged 71) New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | |
| Known for |
studies on the mechanisms by which ions move across cell membranes
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | physiology |
| Institutions | Rockefeller University |
David Christopher Gadsby (26 March 1947 – 3 March 2019) was a British physiologist. A physiologist is a scientist who studies how living things work. He was a professor at The Rockefeller University in New York.
David Gadsby was famous for his research on how tiny charged particles, called ions, move in and out of our body's cells. This movement is super important for many body functions, like how our nerves send signals or how our heart beats.
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David Gadsby's Early Life and Education
David Gadsby was born in Cardiff, Wales, on March 26, 1947. He loved learning about science from a young age.
He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university in England. There, he earned his first science degree in 1969 and a master's degree in 1973. Later, he got his Ph.D. in 1978 from University College London. A Ph.D. is the highest university degree you can get.
What Did David Gadsby Study?
David Gadsby spent his career studying how cells work. Specifically, he looked at cell membranes. Think of a cell membrane as the outer skin of a cell. It controls what goes in and out.
He focused on ions. Ions are atoms or molecules that have an electric charge. They are vital for our bodies to work correctly. For example, sodium and potassium ions help our nerves send messages.
Gadsby studied how these ions cross the cell membrane. He researched special "pumps" and "channels" within the membrane. These are like tiny doors that open and close to let ions pass through.
His Important Discoveries
David Gadsby's research helped us understand how these ion pumps and channels work. He showed how they use energy to move ions. This process is called "active transport."
His work was very important for understanding many diseases. For example, problems with ion movement can lead to heart conditions or nerve disorders. His discoveries helped other scientists develop new medicines and treatments.
Awards and Recognition
David Gadsby received several important awards for his scientific work. In 1995, he won the Kenneth S. Cole Award from the Biophysical Society. This award recognizes top scientists in the field of biophysics.
In 2005, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. It means he was recognized as one of the best scientists in the world.
David Gadsby passed away on March 3, 2019, but his important work continues to help us understand the amazing ways our bodies function.
