Alfred G. Gilman

Alfred G. Gilman (born July 1, 1941 – December 23, 2015) was an American pharmacologist and biochemist. He is best known for his discovery of G proteins and the role they play in signal transduction within cells. This work earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1994, which he shared with Martin Rodbell.

Early life and education

Gilman was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to a family of academics. His father, Alfred Z. Gilman, was a renowned pharmacologist and his mother, Mabel Schmidt Gilman, was a historian. He completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University and earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Career

After completing his medical degree, Gilman joined the faculty at the University of Virginia where he began his research on G proteins. In 1981, he moved to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where he continued his research and served as the dean of the medical school from 2004 to 2006.

Research

Gilman's most significant contribution to science was his discovery of G proteins. These proteins act as molecular switches, turning on and off to regulate various cellular functions. This discovery has had a profound impact on the field of cell biology and has implications for understanding numerous diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

Awards and honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Gilman received numerous other awards and honors throughout his career. These include the Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1989 and the National Medal of Science in 1995.

Personal life and death

Gilman was married to Kathryn Hedlund and they had three children. He died on December 23, 2015, from pancreatic cancer.

See also

• List of Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine
• G protein-coupled receptor