Jerzy Vetulani
Encyclopedia
Jerzy Adam Vetulani is a Polish neuroscientist
and pharmacologist
, professor
of natural sciences, son of Adam Vetulani
and Irena Latinik. He is a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences
and the Polish Academy of Learning
, honorary doctor
of Medical University of Silesia
and Medical University of Łódź, Professor at the Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków and vice-chairman of its scientific council. He is one of the most frequently cited Polish scientists in the field of biomedicine
.
He graduated in Biology (1957) and Chemistry (1962) from the Jagiellonian University
, and received his PhD from Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1966). He first gained recognition for an early hypothesis of the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs
, suggesting, together with Fridolin Sulser, that downregulation
of beta-adrenergic receptor
s is responsible for their effects. Beside depression, his scientific interests include memory
, addiction
and neurodegeneration
.
He is also known as the author of popular articles and lectures on the topic of neuroscience, as well as for his criticism of the repressive drug policy
in Poland (he favors decriminalization
of all drugs). Member of The European Dana
Alliance for the Brain (EDAB); in years 1981–2002 the Editor in Chief of Wszechswiat, the oldest Polish popular science magazine.
Since June 2010 he runs a blog
called Piękno neurobiologii (The Beauty of Neurobiology) on WordPress
. On his blog Vetulani comments on the curiosities of the human brain.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
and pharmacologist
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...
, 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 natural sciences, son of Adam Vetulani
Adam Vetulani
Adam Joachim Vetulani was a Polish historian of medieval law and canonist, professor of Jagiellonian University, a member of Polish Academy of Learning. He was the son of Roman and Elżbieta Kunachowicz, brother of Kazimierz, professor of Lvov University, Tadeusz, professor of animal husbandry,...
and Irena Latinik. He is a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
and the Polish Academy of Learning
Polish Academy of Learning
The Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences or Polish Academy of Learning , headquartered in Kraków, is one of two institutions in contemporary Poland having the nature of an academy of sciences....
, honorary doctor
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Medical University of Silesia
Medical University of Silesia
The Medical University of Silesia is located in Katowice, Poland. Established on March 20, 1948, it is reportedly the largest Medical school in Poland....
and Medical University of Łódź, Professor at the Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków and vice-chairman of its scientific council. He is one of the most frequently cited Polish scientists in the field of biomedicine
Biomedicine
Biomedicine is a branch of medical science that applies biological and other natural-science principles to clinical practice,. Biomedicine, i.e. medical research, involves the study of physiological processes with methods from biology, chemistry and physics. Approaches range from understanding...
.
He graduated in Biology (1957) and Chemistry (1962) from the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
, and received his PhD from Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1966). He first gained recognition for an early hypothesis of the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs
Antidepressant
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder. According to Gelder, Mayou &*Geddes people with a depressive illness will experience a therapeutic effect to their mood;...
, suggesting, together with Fridolin Sulser, that downregulation
Downregulation and upregulation
Downregulation is the process by which a cell decreases the quantity of a cellular component, such as RNA or protein, in response to an external variable...
of beta-adrenergic receptor
Adrenergic receptor
The adrenergic receptors are a class of metabotropic G protein-coupled receptors that are targets of the catecholamines, especially noradrenaline and adrenaline ....
s is responsible for their effects. Beside depression, his scientific interests include memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
, addiction
Addiction
Historically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity...
and neurodegeneration
Neurodegeneration
Neurodegeneration is the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons. Many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s occur as a result of neurodegenerative processes. As research progresses, many...
.
He is also known as the author of popular articles and lectures on the topic of neuroscience, as well as for his criticism of the repressive drug policy
Drug policy
A drug policy most often refers to a government's attempt to combat the negative effects of drug addiction and misuse in its society. Governments try to combat drug addiction with policies which address both the demand and supply of drugs, as well as policies which can mitigate the harms of drug...
in Poland (he favors decriminalization
Decriminalization
Decriminalization or Decriminalisation is the abolition of criminal penalties in relation to certain acts, perhaps retroactively, though perhaps regulated permits or fines might still apply . The reverse process is criminalization.Decriminalization reflects changing social and moral views...
of all drugs). Member of The European Dana
Dana Foundation
The Dana Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in New York dedicated to the support of grants and outreach in science, health, and education, particularly in the neurosciences...
Alliance for the Brain (EDAB); in years 1981–2002 the Editor in Chief of Wszechswiat, the oldest Polish popular science magazine.
Since June 2010 he runs a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
called Piękno neurobiologii (The Beauty of Neurobiology) on WordPress
WordPress
WordPress is a free and open source blogging tool and publishing platform powered by PHP and MySQL. It is often customized into a content management system . It has many features including a plug-in architecture and a template system. WordPress is used by over 14.7% of Alexa Internet's "top 1...
. On his blog Vetulani comments on the curiosities of the human brain.