Professor JC (Ian) McGrath BSc, PhD

During a long career at the University of Glasgow, Ian was head of various departments covering Physiology, Pharmacology, Sports Science and Neuroscience and held the Regius Chair of Physiology 1991-2012. Chairman of The Physiological Society 2006-08; two spells on its Committee or Executive 1988-93 (as local organizer of IUPS 1993) and 2004-2009 (Vice-Chair, Chair and founding chair of Publications Committee). Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Pharmacology 2009-2015. His research investigates fundamental autonomic mechanisms, receptor pharmacology and their application to therapeutics. His early investigations of the then-controversial innervation of several smooth muscle preparations proved central to subsequent important discoveries including co-transmission by noradrenaline and ATP (see Nature 294, 759 – 761), signalling by nitric oxide, the discovery of 6 alpha-adrenoceptor subtypes and the life cycle of receptors. He applied his fundamental findings to therapeutic issues in collaboration with clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry. Marathon PB 2h50m. Currently (2017) Honorary Professor at University of Sydney and Emeritus Professor at University of Glasgow.