Geoffrey S. Dawes
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Sharman Dawes was an English
physiologist and was considered to be the foremost international authority on neo-natal physiology.
which is within Derbyshire
, but he was brought up in Elvaston where his father was the vicar of Elvaston
and Thulston. He had four siblings who were all older than he was. Dawes lived at Thurleston Hall, the vicarage for Elvaston. This hall had previously been the home of William Darwin Fox
. His prep school was in the next village of Shardlow
where he studied until he started at Repton School
which was still within south Derbyshire. This association with Rrepton continued as later he would become both a member and later chair of their governors.
Dawes became the director of the Nuffield Institute for Medical research in Oxford in 1948 only five years after obtaining his degree in medicine.
Following his appointment as director Dawes had to decide on an area of research that was worthy of his attention. He decided on fetal physiology as he thought at the time that study of foetuses would be allow researchers to study simpler version of more complex adult physiology. This was not the case and Dawes himself became a spokesman for the importance and complexity of this stage of physiology.
Dawes was awarded the Gairdner Foundation International Award
in 1966 for his outstanding contributions to medical science. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in March, 1971
Dawes retired in 1985 and took up the post of director of Sunley Research Centre at Charing Cross Hospital
. Here he worked on both the computerisation of foetal heart rates and on molucular biology. The Nuffield Institute of Medical research which he had directed became part of the Institute of Molecular Medicine.
A keen entertainer with his wife Margaret he died in Oxford in 1996.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
physiologist and was considered to be the foremost international authority on neo-natal physiology.
Biography
Dawes was born in 1918 in MackworthMackworth
Mackworth Conservation Village, mentioned in the Domesday Book, and civil parish in the borough of Amber Valley, in Derbyshire, England. Historically, the parish also contained the neighbouring village of Markeaton, now within the Derby city boundary. Mackworth Estate shares its name with the...
which is within Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, but he was brought up in Elvaston where his father was the vicar of Elvaston
Elvaston
Elvaston may refer to*Elvaston, Derbyshire in England*Elvaston, Illinois in the USA...
and Thulston. He had four siblings who were all older than he was. Dawes lived at Thurleston Hall, the vicarage for Elvaston. This hall had previously been the home of William Darwin Fox
William Darwin Fox
The Reverend William Darwin Fox was an English clergyman, naturalist, and a 2nd cousin of Charles Robert Darwin.- Early life :...
. His prep school was in the next village of Shardlow
Shardlow
Shardlow is a village in Derbyshire, England about 8 km southeast of Derby and 12 km southwest of Nottingham. It is part of the civil parish of Shardlow and Great Wilne, and the district of South Derbyshire. It is also very close to the border with Leicestershire which follows the River Trent, ...
where he studied until he started at Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
which was still within south Derbyshire. This association with Rrepton continued as later he would become both a member and later chair of their governors.
Dawes became the director of the Nuffield Institute for Medical research in Oxford in 1948 only five years after obtaining his degree in medicine.
Following his appointment as director Dawes had to decide on an area of research that was worthy of his attention. He decided on fetal physiology as he thought at the time that study of foetuses would be allow researchers to study simpler version of more complex adult physiology. This was not the case and Dawes himself became a spokesman for the importance and complexity of this stage of physiology.
Dawes was awarded the Gairdner Foundation International Award
Gairdner Foundation International Award
The Gairdner Foundation International Award is given annually at a special dinner to three to six people for outstanding discoveries or contributions to medical science. Receipt of the Gairdner is traditionally considered a precursor to winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine; as of 2007, 69 Nobel...
in 1966 for his outstanding contributions to medical science. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in March, 1971
Dawes retired in 1985 and took up the post of director of Sunley Research Centre at Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital
Charing Cross Hospital is a general, acute hospital located in London, United Kingdom and established in 1818. It is located several miles to the west of the city centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham....
. Here he worked on both the computerisation of foetal heart rates and on molucular biology. The Nuffield Institute of Medical research which he had directed became part of the Institute of Molecular Medicine.
A keen entertainer with his wife Margaret he died in Oxford in 1996.