Before 1970, we knew little about how hormones work. Since then, a revolution has taken place. As evidence of this, more than one quarter of all Nobel Prizes for Physiology and Medicine, from 1970 to 1998, have been awarded to scientists whose work revealed some aspect of hormone action at the molecular level. Progress in this area has been fueled by extensive support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Martin Rodbell is just one of these Nobel laureates. A sampling of the others is below. Also listed are the Institutes of the NIH that provided support for at least a portion of each investigator's work.
1971
For the first description of the way hormones work at the molecular level.
Earl
W. Sutherland, Jr.
(NHLBI, NIDDK, NIGMS) Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.
1977
For the discovery of "releasing hormones", which mediate
the release of hormones from the pituitary
gland.
Roger
C. L. Guillemin
(NIDDK, NICHD, DRR) Courtesy of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation.
Andrew
V. Schally
(NIDDK, NIGMS, NICHD). Courtesy of the Albert and Mary Lasker
Foundation.
1992
For discovery of protein kinases, which mediate the effects
of hormones in cells.
Edmond
H. Fischer
(NIDDK, NIGMS) Photograph by Mary Levin, University Photography,
University of Washington.
Edwin
G. Krebs
(NIDDK, NIGMS) Courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.
1998
For the discovery that a gas (nitric oxide) plays a role
as one of the body's signaling molecules.
Robert
F. Furchgott
(NHLBI, NIGMS, NINDS) Photograph by Christopher Little
Louis
J. Ignarro
(NHLBI, NIGMS, NINDS) Photograph by Christopher Little
Ferid
Murad
(NHLBI, NIAMS, NCRR, NIDDK) Courtesy of Watson Wyatt Worldwide.
All Photos: © The Nobel Foundation