Ravinder Maini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Ravinder Maini
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Maini in Budapest, 2013.
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| Born | 17 November 1937 Ludhiana, Punjab, British India
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| Alma mater | Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge |
| Known for | discovery of anti-TNF therapy as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis |
| Awards | Crafoord Prize (2000) Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh (2002) Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research (2003) Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research (2008) Gairdner Foundation International Award (2014) Royal Medal (2024) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology |
| Institutions | Imperial College School of Medicine |
Sir Ravinder Nath Maini (born 17 November 1937) is a famous British doctor and scientist. He was born in India. He is known for his work on a disease called rheumatoid arthritis. Sir Ravinder was a professor at Imperial College London. He also led a special research center called the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology. This institute studies diseases that affect joints and muscles.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ravinder Maini was born in 1937 in a place called Ludhiana. This was in Punjab, which was part of British India at the time. His father, Sir Amar Maini, was a lawyer and a politician. Ravinder went to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge for his university studies.
Discovering New Treatments
In the 1980s, Sir Ravinder Maini worked with two other scientists, Marc Feldmann and Fionula Brennan. They made a very important discovery. They found out that a special protein called TNF alpha plays a big role in rheumatoid arthritis.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term disease. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. It happens when the body's immune system, which usually fights off germs, mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. This can make it hard for people to move their joints.
The Role of TNF Alpha
TNF alpha is a type of protein called a cytokine. Cytokines are like messengers in the body. They help control how the immune system works. Sir Ravinder and his team found that too much TNF alpha makes rheumatoid arthritis worse.
Developing Anti-TNF Therapy
Because of their discovery, scientists could create new medicines. These medicines are called anti-TNF therapies. They work by blocking the TNF alpha protein. This helps to reduce the swelling and pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis. This was a huge step forward in treating the disease.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Ravinder Maini has received many important awards for his groundbreaking work.
- In 2000, he won the Crafoord Prize with Marc Feldmann. This is a very important science award.
- In 2003, he was made a Knight, which means he received the title "Sir."
- Also in 2003, he received the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research. This award is often called "America's Nobel."
- In 2008, he and Marc Feldmann received the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research.
- In 2010, they also won the Ernst Schering Prize from Germany.
- Most recently, in 2024, he and Marc Feldmann were awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society.
He is also an honorary member of the British Society for Immunology. This shows how much his work is respected by other scientists.
