David de Wied
Encyclopedia
David de Wied was a Dutch
professor
of pharmacology
at the University of Utrecht.
Due to the necessity of hiding as a jew during the Second World War
, De Wied only started in 1947 studying medicine
at the University of Groningen
. In 1952 he received his PhD
with his thesis
"Vitamine C, Adrenal gland and Adaptation" and in 1955 he graduated as physician
. In 1961 he was appointed professor of experimental endocrinology
and from 1963 he served as director of the Rudolf Magnus Institute
and professor of pharmacology in Utrecht.
De Wied gained international esteem chiefly by his discovery of neuropeptides and their value to memory and learning. The subject was made comprehensible to the public when the media coined the term "learning-pill" describing the effect of the discovery.
De Wied was a member of many learned societies including the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
(KNAW). He was chairman of the KNAW department of physics
from 1981 until 1984 and general president between 1984 and 1990.
In 1996 De Wied received the Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for medicine. He was Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
and Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
In 2011 the new faculty building of exact science
of the University of Utrecht was named after David de Wied.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at the University of Utrecht.
Due to the necessity of hiding as a jew during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, De Wied only started in 1947 studying medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
. In 1952 he received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
with his thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
"Vitamine C, Adrenal gland and Adaptation" and in 1955 he graduated as physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. In 1961 he was appointed professor of experimental endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
and from 1963 he served as director of the Rudolf Magnus Institute
Rudolf Magnus
Rudolf Magnus was a German pharmacologist and physiologist. He studied medicine, specialising in pharmacology, in Heidelberg, where he became associate professor of pharmacology in 1904. In 1908 he became the first professor of pharmacology in Utrecht, where he spent the rest of his working life...
and professor of pharmacology in Utrecht.
De Wied gained international esteem chiefly by his discovery of neuropeptides and their value to memory and learning. The subject was made comprehensible to the public when the media coined the term "learning-pill" describing the effect of the discovery.
De Wied was a member of many learned societies including the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
(KNAW). He was chairman of the KNAW department of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from 1981 until 1984 and general president between 1984 and 1990.
In 1996 De Wied received the Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for medicine. He was Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
and Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
In 2011 the new faculty building of exact science
Exact science
An exact science is any field of science capable of accurate quantitative expression or precise predictions and rigorous methods of testing hypotheses, especially reproducible experiments involving quantifiable predictions and measurements...
of the University of Utrecht was named after David de Wied.