Gustav Victor Rudolf Born facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gustav Victor Rudolf Born
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Gustav Victor Rudolf Born was a very important scientist from Germany and Britain. He was a professor who studied how medicines affect the body, a field called Pharmacology. He worked at famous universities like King's College London. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a high honor for scientists.
A Life of Science and Discovery
Gustav Born was born in Germany in 1921. His father, Max Born, was also a famous scientist. In 1933, his family had to leave Germany because they were Jewish. They moved to Britain. Gustav went to school in Cambridge and Edinburgh. He then studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
After becoming a doctor, Gustav served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was one of the first doctors to see the effects of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. He noticed that many survivors had serious bleeding problems. This was because the radiation damaged their bodies, especially their platelets. Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that help it clot and stop bleeding.
This experience deeply affected Gustav. It made him want to study platelets more. He invented a simple device to measure how fast platelets clump together. This invention changed how doctors diagnosed blood diseases related to platelets. It also helped create new medicines that prevent platelets from clumping too much. These medicines have saved millions of lives by reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Gustav did not patent his invention. He believed that scientific discoveries that help people should be free for everyone to use.
His Work and Achievements
From 1973 to 1978, Gustav Born was a professor at Cambridge University. He became a member of the Royal Society of London in 1972. This is a very high honor for scientists. In 1976, he also became a member of the Royal College of Physicians. He taught at King's College London from 1978 to 1986. Later, he became a research professor at the William Harvey Institute.
His Family Life
Gustav Born was married twice and had five children. His first wife was Ann Plowden-Wardlaw, a doctor. They had three children. Later, he married Dr. Faith Maurice-Williams. They had two more children. One of his daughters, Carey Born, is an actress and filmmaker. Another daughter, Georgina Born, is a professor at Cambridge University. His niece was the famous singer and actress Olivia Newton-John.
