Marsden, Charles: transcript of a video interview (19-Apr-2016)

Abstract

Interview with Professor Charles Marsden, conducted by Professor Tilli Tansey, for the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group, 19 April 2016, in the School of History, Queen Mary University of London. Transcribed by Mrs Debra Gee, and edited by Professor Tilli Tansey and Dr Apostolos Zarros. The project management and the technical support (filming and production) were undertaken by Mr Adam Wilkinson and Mr Alan Yabsley, respectively. Professor Charles Marsden PhD DSc HonFBPhS (b. 1943) read zoology at the University of London before going to Southampton University where he obtained an MSc in biochemical pharmacology (1967), a PhD in invertebrate neuropharmacology (1969) and a DSc in 1986. Following his PhD, he went to the University of Bergen (Norway) for three years (1969-1972) before going to the Institute of Neurology, London, to work with Professor Gerald Curzon. In 1978 he moved to the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Nottingham, where in 1981 he obtained a Wellcome Trust Senior Lectureship, and subsequently a Professorship in Neuropharmacology (1986). From 2002 to 2008 he was Co-Director of the Institute of Neuroscience at Nottingham. During this period he was President of the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP; 2000-2002) and of the Serotonin Club (2008). He was awarded the J. R. Vane Medal by the British Pharmacological Society (BPS; 2002) for his contribution to neuropharmacology. In 2012 he was made an Honorary Member of the Serotonin Club, and in 2013 was given a Life Time Achievement Award by the BAP. In 2014 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the BPS (HonFBPhS).