James Learmonth Gowans facts for kids
Sir James Learmonth Gowans (born May 7, 1924 – died April 1, 2020) was an important British doctor and scientist. He studied the body's immune system. In 1945, while still a medical student, he helped people at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp after it was freed.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
James Gowans was born in Sheffield, England. He finished his medical degree in 1947. Then, he studied physiology (how the body works) at Oxford University. He earned his Ph.D. by studying tiny cells called lymphocytes. These cells are very important for our immune system.
Discoveries About the Immune System
Sir James Gowans made big discoveries about how our immune system works. Before his work, many scientists thought that lymphocytes lived for only a short time. But he showed that some lymphocytes actually travel a lot. They move from the blood into the lymphatic system and then back into the blood. This movement helps them protect our bodies.
He also did experiments with rats. These experiments showed that lymphocytes are key players in transplant rejection. This is when the body's immune system attacks a new organ that has been transplanted. His work helped doctors understand how to make organ transplants more successful.
Career and Achievements
After his research, James Gowans became a professor at Oxford. He later took on important leadership roles. For ten years, he was the secretary of the Medical Research Council. This group helps decide which medical research projects get funding in the UK. He also worked as Secretary-General of the Human Frontier Science Program. This program supports international research in life sciences.
Awards and Recognition
Sir James Gowans received many awards for his important work. In 1963, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He was also made a Knight Bachelor in 1982. This means he could use the title "Sir."
Some of his other awards include:
- The Wolf Prize in Medicine in 1980.
- The Gairdner Foundation International Award in 1968.
- The Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize in 1974.
- The Royal Medal in 1976.
- He shared the first Medawar Prize in 1990.
Family
In 1956, James Gowans married Moira Leatham. They had one son and two daughters.
See also
- List of London medical students who assisted at Belsen
