The identification of nitric oxide as a vital signaling molecule in the mammalian cardiovascular system redefined the understanding of blood vessel regulation. Robert F. Furchgott, who spent decades studying pharmacological responses, determined that this simple gaseous compound enabled the relaxation of smooth muscles, providing a biological mechanism for how nitroglycerin alleviates the symptoms of angina pectoris.
Academic Foundation
Born in Charleston in 1916, Furchgott pursued rigorous scientific training across the United States. He completed his undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1937. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Northwestern University in 1940. His early academic career included teaching positions at Cornell University Medical College and the Washington University School of Medicine, before he joined SUNY Brooklyn in 1956 for a tenure lasting over three decades.
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In 1978, Furchgott observed an unknown substance produced within endothelial cells that prompted blood vessels to widen. He designated this agent as the endothelium-derived relaxing factor. By 1986, through sustained experimental investigation, he identified the chemical nature of this factor as nitric oxide. This breakthrough established that the gas served as a transient cellular signal, a function previously unrecognized in biological physiology.
Scientific Impact and Recognition
The implications of Furchgott's research extended into clinical treatments for cardiovascular disease and related conditions. His findings helped clarify the efficacy of drugs like nitroglycerin and later informed the development of medications for erectile dysfunction. For his contributions to medical research, he received the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1996 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998, sharing the honor with Louis Ignarro and Ferid Murad.
Professional Life and Later Years
Throughout his career, Furchgott maintained memberships in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. After concluding his time at SUNY, he served at the University of Miami. In his final years, he relocated to the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle. He passed away on May 19, 2009, and was interred at the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1916, Charleston
- Died: 2009, Seattle
- Education: University of North Carolina, Northwestern University
- Nobel Prize: Physiology or Medicine, 1998
- Major Discovery: Nitric oxide signaling in blood vessels
- Key Awards: Albert Lasker Award, Canada Gairdner International Award
- Academic Tenure: SUNY Brooklyn (1956-1989)
- Burial Site: Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of Furchgott's discovery of nitric oxide?
He identified nitric oxide as a signaling molecule that causes blood vessels to dilate, which explained the therapeutic function of nitroglycerin.
Which major academic institutions employed Robert F. Furchgott?
He held positions at Cornell University, Washington University in St. Louis, SUNY Brooklyn, and the University of Miami.
Achievements
- Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research — 1996
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — 1998
- Educated at University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Northwestern University
- Worked as biochemist, physician and pharmacist
