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GEOFFREY BURNSTOCK: MOST HIGHLY CITED SCIENTIST

SUMMARY

If you haven’t taken the time to read up on purinergic signaling, consider this: of the ten most cited scientists in pharmacology for the past decade, no less than four work on biological responses to purines and related molecules¹. If you’re surprised by this statistic, you’re in good company: until a few weeks ago, the fact was also unknown to Geoffrey Burnstock, the single-most cited researcher on the list and the scientist who coined the term "purinergic nerves" in the early 70s. (He is also about to launch a new journal devoted to the discipline, Purinergic Signalling, as Editor-in-Chief ). At that time, Burnstock’s depiction of ATP as an important neurotransmitter was met with considerable skepticism, even among those who otherwise accepted and studied the intracellular actions of purines. This year in June, Burnstock appeared at the Purines 2004 Meeting, appropriately enough, to deliver the "First Burnstock Lecture." Many of the symposia presenters openly acknowledged Burnstock’s work in driving the purinergic field to its present state of fruition; this acknowledgment, along with the genuine affection that typically accompanies it, seems to surprise as much as it delights Burnstock, who remembers very well the many meetings where his results went hotly challenged. The following interview took place at Purines 2004 in Chapel Hill.