John Casida studied pesticide chemistry and toxicology to evaluate existing uses and design safer and more effective alternatives. His research emphasised not only neuroactive insecticides but also herbicides, fungicides and other pest control agents and environmental toxicants.
The programme laid much of the foundation for our current understanding of organophosphate, methylcarbamate, pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides. It also established the importance of gamma-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channels in polychlorocycloalkane and fiprole insecticide action, and calcium-activated channels in ryanodine and diamide insecticide action.
John received many accolades in recognition of his work, including the Wolf Prize in Agriculture in 1993, the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Founders Award in 1994, the Koro-Sho Prize of the Pesticide Science Society of Japan in 1995, honorary membership in the Society of Toxicology in 1996, and the American College of Toxicology Distinguished Service Award in 2009. In addition to being a Foreign Member of the Royal Society since 1998, he was elected Member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 1994,and the European Academy of Sciences in 2004.
Professor John Casida ForMemRS died on 30 June 2018.
Subject groups
- Chemistry
- Molecules of Life
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
Awards
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Wolf Prize
In the field of agriculture for his pioneering studies on the mode of action of insecticides, design of safer pesticides and contributions to the understanding of nerve and muscle function in insects.
