George Radda was a biochemist who researched the structure and function of biological membranes and enzymes and has a specific interest in the molecular and cellular basis of heart disease. Through developing techniques for his research, George pioneered the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in biological imaging.
Early in his career, George developed fluorescent probes to further his work on cell membranes and enzymes. He then became interested in NMR and published the first paper on using phosphorus NMR to study tissue metabolites. This led to the creation of the first clinical NMR unit in the world and paved the way for the worldwide use of MRI scanning in human disease diagnosis.
George was for many years the Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council, reorganising its funding arrangements to provide research units with long-term funding and encourage greater collaboration and interdisciplinary working. He was Professor of Molecular Cardiology at the British Heart Foundation, has won numerous international awards and was knighted in 2000.
Sir George Radda CBE FMedSci FRS died on 13 September 2024.
Professional position
- Emeritus Professor of Molecular Cardiology, Department Of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford
Subject groups
- Molecules of Life
Awards
-
Buchanan Medal
For his development of high resolution NMR spectroscopy for the study of cellular energetics and cellular enzymology, and for medical diagnosis, and of the insights and advances thereby gained.
