Bernard Brodie

Bernard Brodie
Bernard Brodie, pharmacologist and biochemist
Born	August 7, 1907 Liverpool, England
Died	February 28, 1989 New York City, United States
Nationality	American
Known for	Pioneering work in drug metabolism
Scientific career
Fields	Pharmacology, Biochemistry

Bernard Brodie (August 7, 1907 – February 28, 1989) was a prominent American pharmacologist and biochemist, renowned for his pioneering research in the field of drug metabolism. His work laid the foundation for modern pharmacology and significantly advanced the understanding of how drugs are processed in the body.

Early Life and Education

Bernard Brodie was born in Liverpool, England, and immigrated to the United States with his family at a young age. He pursued his undergraduate studies at New York University, where he developed an interest in chemistry and biology. Brodie went on to earn his Ph.D. in chemistry from New York University in 1935.

Career and Research

Brodie's career in pharmacology began at the Goldwater Memorial Hospital in New York, where he worked as a research chemist. In 1949, he joined the National Heart Institute (now part of the National Institutes of Health), where he conducted groundbreaking research on drug metabolism.

Brodie is best known for his work on the metabolism of acetaminophen (paracetamol) and antihistamines. He discovered that drugs are metabolized in the liver by specific enzymes, a process that can affect their efficacy and toxicity. This discovery was crucial in understanding drug interactions and the development of safer medications.

One of Brodie's significant contributions was the development of the "Brodie method" for measuring drug levels in the blood, which became a standard technique in pharmacokinetics.

Contributions to Pharmacology

Brodie's research led to the identification of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which plays a vital role in the metabolism of many drugs. His work helped establish the field of pharmacogenomics, which studies how genetic variations affect individual responses to drugs.

Brodie also contributed to the understanding of neurotransmitters and their role in mental health disorders. His research on serotonin and dopamine paved the way for the development of new treatments for depression and schizophrenia.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Bernard Brodie received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science, including the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1967. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Legacy

Bernard Brodie's work has had a lasting impact on the field of pharmacology. His research not only improved the understanding of drug metabolism but also influenced the development of new drugs and therapeutic strategies. Today, his contributions continue to benefit patients worldwide.

Also see

• Pharmacokinetics
• Drug metabolism
• Cytochrome P450
• Pharmacogenomics
• Neurotransmitter