Garth L. Nicolson

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Garth L. Nicolson
Born (1943-10-01) October 1, 1943 (age 80)
University of Texas
Texas A&M University

The Institute for Molecular Medicine
Websitewww.immed.org

Garth L. Nicolson (born October 1, 1943)[1] is an American biochemist who made a landmark scientific model for cell membrane, known as the fluid mosaic model. He is the founder of The Institute for Molecular Medicine at California, and he serves as the president, chief scientific officer and emeritus professor of molecular pathology. He is also a conjoint professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Newcastle, Australia.

During the outbreak of the

Persian Gulf War Veterans Conference.[2] On suspicion of the bacterium that caused the disease as a product of biological warfare, he made extensive scientific investigations and served as authority to the United States House of Representatives.[3] For his service he was conferred honorary Colonel of the US Army Special Forces and honorary US Navy SEAL.[4]

With

S.J. Singer, Nicolson published a paper titled "The Fluid Mosaic Model of the Structure of Cell Membranes" in 1972,[5] which is now regarded as a classic paper in cell biology.[6][7][8]

With over 600 scientific papers, the majority of Nicolson's research is in

aging
.

Biography

Nicolson was born in

University of Texas Medical School from 1982 to 1998. During 1981–1998 he was adjunct professor in the department of pathology at the school of veterinary medicine, Texas A & M University. From 1989 to 1999 he was professor in the department of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical School.[1] In 1996 he founded The Institute for Molecular Medicine at Huntington Beach in 1996.[9] He became its president, chief scientific officer and research professor of molecular pathology. He also serves as professor of integrative medicine at Capitol University of Integrative Medicine. Since 2003 he is also the conjoint professor in the faculty of science and technology at the University of Newcastle, Australia.[2][3]
He is a founding editor of the editorial board of the Cancer and Metastasis Reviews.[10]

Contributions

Fluid mosaic model of cell membrane

While working as research associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Nicolson collaborated with S.J. Singer at the

phospholipids, which exhibit fluidity like oil. The phospholids are not just stationary, but are able to move, and the proteins can move in the fluid lipid layer. These properties give the membrane flexibility.[12] The model turned out to be the foundation of modern understanding of cell membrane structure and functions. Although its basic assumptions are still true, the dynamic nature has been underestimated, and more information have been incorporated with new discoveries.[6][7][8][13][14][15][16][17]

Gulf War syndrome and controversy

After the Gulf War of 1990–1991, a number of war veterans suffered from similar illness, popularly dubbed Gulf War syndrome.[18] They indicated symptoms like chronic fatigue, headaches, memory loss, muscle pain, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, lymph node pain, increased chemical sensitivities and other signs and symptoms. Nicolson became one of the leading experts in the investigation of the cause and cure of the disease.[19] Initially the US government disregarded the illnesses as the aftermath of the Gulf War, such as exposure to biological or chemical warfare. Nicolson and his wife Nancy became the main voice to raise the problem.[20] They identified the causal pathogen as Mycoplasma fermentans, which was a different strain from the natural pathogen, raising the possibility that it was man-made biological weapon.[21] They successfully treated patients with multiple courses of specific antibiotics, such as doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, clarithromycin or minocycline.[22] Nicolson's "Written Testimony" to the US Senate in 1998 states that: "We consider it quite likely that many of the Desert Storm veterans suffering from the GWI signs and symptoms may have been exposed to chemical/biological toxins (exogenous or endogenous sources of these agents) containing slowly proliferating microorganisms (Mycoplasma, Brucella, Coxiella, etc.), and such infections, although not usually fatal, can produce various chronic signs and symptoms long after exposure."[23] While other researchers found negative results for Mycoplasma infection,[24][25] Nicolson's team found definite high prevalence of Mycoplasma infections.[26]

Awards and recognitions

  • Annual Award of the Common Cause Medical Research Foundation of Canada, in 2006
  • Innovative Medicine Award of Canada, in 2002
  • Stephen Paget Award from Metastasis Research Society, in 1998
  • Albert Schweitzer Award, in 1998
  • Indo-American Society for Health & Laboratory Professionals Award, in 1996
  • Colonel (Honorary) of the U. S. Army Special Forces, in 1995
  • SEAL (Honorary) of the U.S. Navy Special Forces, in 1995
  • Burroughs Wellcome Medal from the Royal Society of Medicine Foundation, London, in 1991
  • Outstanding Faculty Award from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, in 1991
  • U.S. National Cancer Institute U.S.S.R. Scientist Exchange Award for Collaborative Research on Molecular and Genetic Aspects of Tumor Metastasis, in 1991
  • NCI/NIH Outstanding Investigator Award, in 1987
  • President of the Metastasis Research Society, 1988–1990 (Secretary-Treasurer, 1990–1998, and Vice President, 1986–1988)
  • Member, board of directors of the American Association for Cancer Research, 1985–1988
  • Annual Award of the Japan Histochemical Society, in 1976
  • Upjohn Biology Education Award, in 1976
  • Presidential Award of the Electron Microscopy Society of America, in 1971

References

  1. ^ a b "Curriculum Vitae GARTH L. NICOLSON". The Institute for Molecular Medicine. February 20, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Professor Emeritus Garth L. Nicolson" (PDF). The Institute for Molecular Medicine. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Nicolson, Garth L; Nicolson, Nancy L. "About the authors". Project Day Lily. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "IMM – Faculty and Associate Faculty". The Institute for Molecular Medicine. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  5. ^
    S2CID 83851531
    .
  6. ^
    ISSN 0265-4377. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help
    )
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1-107-72933-9
    .
  8. ^
    PMID 7770769
    .
  9. ^ "Garth Nicolson Prof". iHealthTube. February 7, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  10. ^ "Cancer and Metastasis Reviews".
  11. ^ Martin, Laura. "The Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell Membrane – The Mosaic". oepnstax cnx. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  12. ^ Ash, Michael (August 28, 2012). "A Special Note from Garth Nicolson PhD Why Lipid Replacement Therapy(LRT®) is Key to our Health". Clinical Education. Nutri-Link Ltd. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  13. PMID 12655369
    .
  14. S2CID 4416823
    .
  15. PMID 22905956
    .
  16. PMID 32309537
    .
  17. PMID 24189436
    .
  18. PMID 9178600
    .
  19. PMID 8871324
    .
  20. PMID 9178600
    .
  21. ^ Blair, Mike (July 3, 1995). "The Government Is Lying To You -- And Ill Veterans -- About Gulf War Syndrome". The Spotlight. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  22. S2CID 19886150
    .
  23. ^ Nicolson, Garth L (November 19, 1998). "WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF Dr. Garth L. Nicolson Special Oversight Board for Department of Defense Investigations of Gulf War Chemical and Biological Incidents". U. S. Senate Hart Office Building SH-216. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  24. S2CID 32534013
    .
  25. PMID 11218212
    .
  26. S2CID 24870742
    .

External links
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