Person
Curtis, David Roderick (1927 - 2017)
AC FAA FRS
- Born
- 3 June 1927
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 11 December 2017
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia - Occupation
- Pharmacologist, University Administrator and Neurobiologist
Summary
David Curtis was internationally recognised as a pioneer in the identification of excitatory and inhibitory transmitters released at synapses in the central nervous system. Among his major contributions was the identification of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glycine as inhibitory transmitters released at inhibitory synapse. Curtis had a distinguished career at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, retiring in 1992 as Howard Florey Professor of Medical Research and Director of the School. His significant involvement with the Australian Academy of Science included terms as President and as Chairman of the Editorial Committee of the Academy's journal, Historical records of Australian science. For his longstanding commitment to the Australian Neuroscience Society he received the Society's Distinguished Achievement Award.
Details
Chronology
- 1950
- Education - MB BS, University of Melbourne
- 1951 - 1952
- Career position - Junior Resident Medical Officer, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- 1952 - 1953
- Career position - Senior Resident Medical Officer, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- 1953 - 1954
- Career position - Registrar, Department of Neurology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
- 1954 - 1956
- Career position - Research Scholar, Department of Physiology, Australian National University
- 1956 - 1957
- Career position - Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, Australian National University
- 1957
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Australian National University
- 1957 - 1959
- Career position - Fellow, Department of Physiology, Australian National University
- 1959 - 1962
- Career position - Senior Fellow, Department of Physiology, Australian National University
- 1962 - 1966
- Career position - Professorial Fellow, Department of Physiology, Australian National University
- 1965
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 1966 - 1968
- Career position - Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Physiology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
- 1968 - 1973
- Career position - Professor of Neuropharmacology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
- 1973 - 1988
- Career position - Professor of Pharmacology, Head of Department of Pharmacology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
- 1974
- Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)
- 1974 - 1977
- Career position - Vice-President, Australian Academy of Science
- 1983
- Award - Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science
- 1986 - 1990
- Career position - President, Australian Academy of Science
- 1987
- Award - Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- 1988
- Career position - Chairman, Division of Physiological Sciences, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
- 1989
- Career position - Head, Division of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
- 1989 - 1992
- Career position - Director and Howard Florey Professor of Medical Research, John Curtin School of Medical Research
- 1991 - 1995
- Career position - President, Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society
- 1992
- Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - in recognition of his contributions to medical research and scientific administration
- 1993 - 1995
- Award - University Fellow, Australian National University
- 2001
- Award - Centenary Medal - for service to Australian society and science in neurophysiology
- 2002 - 2009
- Career position - Chairman, Editorial Committee, Historical records of Australian science
- 2009
- Award - Distinguished Achievement Award, Australian Neuroscience Society
Related entries
Archival resources
Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science
Published resources
Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Exhibitions
- Smith, Ailie, Adolph Basser Library Manuscript Collection, eScholarship Research Centre, 2012, http://www.eoas.info/basser_browse.html. Details
Books
- Fenner, Frank and Curtis, David, The John Curtin School of Medical Research: the First Fifty Years, 1948-1998 (Gundaroo, New South Wales: Brolga Press, 2001), 565 (577) pp. Details
Book Sections
- Curtis, D. R., 'David R. Curtis' in The history of neuroscience in autobiography, volume 5, Squire, Larry R., ed. (Burlington, Mass.: Society for Neuroscience, 2006), pp. 171-225. Details
Edited Books
- Clifford, Harold T. ed., Cambridge - Castlemaine: a Tribute to John Stewart Turner on the Occasion of his 80th Birthday (St Lucia: Botany Department, University of Queensland, 1988), 71 pp. Details
Journal Articles
- Beart, Phillip; Johnston, Graham; and Lodge, David, 'In memoriam: David Curtis', Australasian Neuroscience Society newsletter (2018), 15-6. Details
- Curtis, David, 'Sir John Eccles, AC - Nobel Laureate', Melbourne University Magazine (2002), 28-29. Details
- Curtis, David R.; Andersen, Per, 'John Carew Eccles 1903-1997', Historical Records of Australian Science, 13 (3) (2001), 439-473. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR0011340439. Details
- Curtis, David; Andersen, Per, 'Sir John Carew Eccles, AC', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 47 (2001), 161-187, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.2001.0010. Details
- Redman, S. J. and Porter, R., 'David Roderick Curtis, 3 June 1927 - 11 December 2017', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 69 (2020), 133-43, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.2020.0025. Details
- Redman, Stephen J.; and Porter, Robert, 'David Roderick Curtis 1927 - 2017', Historical Records of Australian Science, 31 (2) (2020), 152-6. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR19016. Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21165887. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/94976164. Details
- 'Curtis, David Roderick (1927-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1306372. Details
Resource Sections
- 'Obituary: Emeritus Professor David Curtis AC FAA FRACP FRS 1927 - 2017', in Fellows Update - February 2018, Australian Academy of Science, 2018. https://www.science.org.au/academy-newsletter/feb-2018-113/fellows-update. Details
- Blythe, Max, 'Interview with Professor David Curtis', in Interviews with Australian scientists, Australian Academy of Science, 13 September 1993, https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/professor-david-curtis. Details
See also
- Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science, 2022, https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/macfarlane-burnet-medal-and-lecture. Details
Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 6 October 2023
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education