Leslie Iversen

Leslie Iversen

Leslie Lars Iversen (31 October 1937 – 30 July 2020) was a prominent British pharmacologist and neuroscientist whose research significantly advanced the understanding of neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly in relation to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Iversen was born in Exeter, England, and educated at the University of Cambridge, where he obtained his PhD in pharmacology. His early work focused on the mechanisms by which neurotransmitters are stored, released, and inactivated in the nervous system.

Throughout his career, Iversen held several prestigious positions, including being a professor at the University of Oxford, where he contributed to the development of new techniques for measuring neurotransmitter activity and their receptors in the brain. He also worked in the pharmaceutical industry, serving as the director of the Merck Sharp & Dohme Neuroscience Research Centre in the UK, where he led research into novel treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Iversen's contributions to neuroscience were recognized with numerous awards and honors, including membership in the Royal Society, one of the highest honors a UK scientist can receive. He was also a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences and received the Gold Medal of the British Pharmacological Society.

His publications, including several influential books such as "The Science of Marijuana" and "Brainstorms: Understanding and Treating the Emotional Storms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood," have made significant impacts in both the scientific community and public understanding of drug action in the brain. Iversen's work has not only advanced our knowledge of the brain's chemistry but also contributed to the development of new pharmacological treatments for mental health conditions.