John Graham Nicholls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Graham Nicholls
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Nicholls in 2007
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| Born | 19 December 1929 London, England
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| Died | 13 July 2023 (aged 93) Trieste, Italy
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| Nationality | British, Swiss |
| Alma mater | King's College London Charing Cross Hospital University College London |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physiology |
| Institutions | University College London, Charing Cross Hospital, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Biozentrum University of Basel, International School for Advanced Studies |
John Graham Nicholls (born December 19, 1929 – died July 13, 2023) was a famous British and Swiss scientist. He was a physiologist, which means he studied how living things work. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, a special honor for top scientists. Nicholls was well-known for his important research on the brain and nervous system.
About His Life
John Nicholls went to school at Berkhamsted School. He then studied at King's College London. He earned his medical degree from Charing Cross Hospital. Later, he received his PhD from University College London in 1955.
He worked at many well-known universities. These included University College London, Oxford, Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. In 1983, he became a professor at the Biozentrum University of Basel in Switzerland. After retiring in 1998, he continued to teach at the International School for Advanced Studies.
The International Brain Research Organization created a special award in his name. This award helps other scientists study the brain. John Nicholls passed away in 2023 when he was 93 years old.
His Scientific Work
John Nicholls was best known for his research in neurobiology. This field studies the nervous system. He looked at how neurons (nerve cells) talk to each other. This process is called synaptic transmission.
He also studied why nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord do not grow back after an injury. He created new ways to study the central nervous system (CNS). This helped scientists understand how nerve cells might regrow.
Later in his career, he started to study how our nervous system controls breathing. He wanted to know how the brain creates the rhythm of breathing. He also wrote a very important book called From Neuron to Brain. This book has been updated many times and is used by students around the world.
Awards and Honors
John Nicholls received several important awards for his work:
- 1988: He became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
- 2003: The John Nicholls Fellowship was created in his honor. This fellowship helps young scientists.
- 2007: He received an honorary science degree from the University of Trieste.
- 2010: He won an award for his work in neuroscience education.
- 2011: The John G. Nicholls Lecture series was started.
Books He Wrote
John Nicholls was the author or co-author of several editions of his famous book:
- From Neuron to Brain, 1st edition (1976)
- From Neuron to Brain, 2nd edition (1984)
- From Neuron to Brain, 3rd edition (1992)
- From Neuron to Brain, 4th edition (2001)
- From Neuron to Brain, 5th edition (2011)
