Alfred Gilman Sr.

Alfred Goodman Gilman Sr. (July 1, 1941 – December 23, 2015) was an American pharmacologist and biochemist. He is best known for his discovery of G proteins and their role 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 Alfred Zack Gilman and Mabel Schmidt Gilman. His father was a renowned oncologist at Yale University. Gilman completed his undergraduate studies at Yale University in 1962, majoring in biochemistry. He then pursued his medical and doctoral studies at Case Western Reserve University, where he earned his MD and PhD degrees in 1969.

Career

After completing his education, Gilman joined the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Medicine as an assistant professor of pharmacology. In 1981, he moved to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he served as chairman of the Department of Pharmacology until 2009.

During his career, Gilman made significant contributions to the field of cell signaling. His most notable discovery was the identification of G proteins, which are crucial for transmitting signals from outside the cell to its interior. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of how cells communicate and respond to external stimuli, and has had profound implications for the development of new drugs and therapies.

Personal Life and Death

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

Awards and Honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Gilman received numerous other awards and honors for his contributions to science. These include the Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1989, the Gairdner Foundation International Award in 1984, and the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University in 1989.

Legacy

Gilman's work has had a lasting impact on the field of pharmacology and beyond. His discovery of G proteins has paved the way for the development of a wide range of drugs that target these proteins, including treatments for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

See Also

• G protein
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Martin Rodbell
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

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