Irvine Page
Encyclopedia
Irvine Heinly Page was born in Indianapolis
, Indiana
and was an American
physiologist
who played an important part in the field of hypertension
for almost 60 years.
His first contributions were published in the early 1930s and his most recent, "Hypertension Research: A Memoir : 1920-1960", in 1988. He is perhaps best known for the co-discovery of serotonin
in 1948, although his pre-eminence is a matter of record in four other areas: the renin-angiotensin system, the mosaic theory of hypertension, treatment of hypertension and public and professional advocacy
of the recognition of this condition and its effects in daily life. In earlier work he published on the neurochemistry
of the brain
.
Page received many honors for his work. He was on the cover of Time magazine's October 31, 1955 issue. He was president of the American Heart Association
(1956–57); he received ten honorary degrees and a number of prestigious awards—the Ida B. Gould Memorial Award of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(1957); Albert Lasker Award
(1958); Gairdner Foundation
Award (1963); Distinguished Award of the American Medical Association
(1964); Oscar B. Hunter Award (1966); Passano Foundation
Award (1967); and the Stouffer Prize (now the Novartis
Award) for Hypertension Research in 1970. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 1971 and published his memoirs in 1988.
The American Heart Association Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award and the Irvine Page - Alva Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award are named in his honor.
, noted American ballet dancer. Page was also a gifted musician, a trait he passed on to his two sons, Christopher Page and Nicholas Page. Page lived in Cleveland, OH with his wife and children, summering in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod. His family home on the Cape is now owned and occupied by his granddaughter and great grandchildren.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physiologist
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
who played an important part in the field of hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
for almost 60 years.
His first contributions were published in the early 1930s and his most recent, "Hypertension Research: A Memoir : 1920-1960", in 1988. He is perhaps best known for the co-discovery of serotonin
Serotonin
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...
in 1948, although his pre-eminence is a matter of record in four other areas: the renin-angiotensin system, the mosaic theory of hypertension, treatment of hypertension and public and professional advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
of the recognition of this condition and its effects in daily life. In earlier work he published on the neurochemistry
Neurochemistry
Neurochemistry is the specific study of neurochemicals, which include neurotransmitters and other molecules such as neuro-active drugs that influence neuron function. This principle closely examines the manner in which these neurochemicals influence the network of neural operation...
of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
.
Page received many honors for his work. He was on the cover of Time magazine's October 31, 1955 issue. He was president of the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
(1956–57); he received ten honorary degrees and a number of prestigious awards—the Ida B. Gould Memorial Award of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(1957); Albert Lasker Award
Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary...
(1958); Gairdner Foundation
Gairdner Foundation
The Gairdner Foundation was created in 1957 by James Arthur Gairdner to recognize and reward the achievements of medical researchers whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life. Since the first awards were made in 1959, the Gairdner Awards have become Canada's...
Award (1963); Distinguished Award of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
(1964); Oscar B. Hunter Award (1966); Passano Foundation
Passano Foundation
The Passano Foundation, established in 1945, provides an annual award of $ 100 000 to an American research scientist whose work is thought to have immediate practical benefits. Many Passano laureates have subsequently won the Nobel Prize....
Award (1967); and the Stouffer Prize (now the Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
Award) for Hypertension Research in 1970. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1971 and published his memoirs in 1988.
The American Heart Association Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award and the Irvine Page - Alva Bradley Lifetime Achievement Award are named in his honor.
Personal Life
Page was married to Beatrice Allen, a dancer, poet, and author of the book, The Bracelet. His sister was Ruth PageRuth Page
Ruth Page was an American ballerina and choreographer, considered a pioneer in creating works on American themes. To the classical ballet vocabulary she added movements from sports, popular dance and everyday gestures....
, noted American ballet dancer. Page was also a gifted musician, a trait he passed on to his two sons, Christopher Page and Nicholas Page. Page lived in Cleveland, OH with his wife and children, summering in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod. His family home on the Cape is now owned and occupied by his granddaughter and great grandchildren.