George F. Cahill Jr. (July 7, 1927 – July 30, 2012) was an American scientist who significantly advanced the diabetes mellitus research of the 20th century. ^[1] He focused on metabolic research, especially concerning human glucose metabolism in diabetic and normal conditions; he also investigated the effect of hunger and fasting on metabolic pathways and ketose processes. He was author and co-author of nearly 200 articles in scientific magazines and books.

Early life

George Cahill Jr. was born in New York City. He attended the Hotchkiss School and then completed a course of studies at the Yale University, graduating in 1949. ^[2] In 1953, he earned a medical doctoral degree at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. ^[3]

Career

Cahill started working as a medical assistant at the Biochemical Department at the Peter Bent Bringham Hospital (today: Brigham and Women’s Hospital) in Boston. He was also involved in research at the Albert Baird Hastings laboratory from 1955 until 1957 before he transferred to the Joslin's Diabetes Center in 1958, after another clinical year. There, he took the place of research director when Albert Renold returned to Europe 1962. Cahill held the position until 1978. ^{[4] [5]} 1962 he became active in the research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), ^[6] since 1972 as member of the advisory board and later as research director and finally vice president. ^[7] He left the HHMI in 1990. 1970 he became a Harvard Medical School professor. Until 1990 he continued teaching classes, before he had been given emeritus status. ^{[8] [9]} Since 1989 Cahill taught a biology course for non-biologists at the Dartmouth College. ^[10]

Personal life

Cahill married Sarah ("Sally") duPont († 2010) in 1949. They had four daughters and two sons. ^{[11] [12]}

Works (selection)

• Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 73, 1961, S. 22–29, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  13875555. PMC  2249046.
• G. F. Cahill, O. E. Owen: Starvation and survival. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 79, 1968, S. 13–20, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  5667163. PMC  2441175.
• O. E. Owen, P. Felig, A. P. Morgan, J. Wahren, G. F. Cahill: Liver and kidney metabolism during prolonged starvation. In: The Journal of clinical investigation. Band 48, No. 3, März 1969, S. 574–583, ISSN  0021-9738. doi: 10.1172/JCI106016. PMID  5773093. PMC  535723.
• P. Felig, E. Marliss, O. E. Owen, G. F. Cahill: Blood glucose and gluconeogenesis in fasting man. In: Archives of internal medicine. Band 123, No. 3, März 1969, S. 293–298, ISSN  0003-9926. PMID  4885676. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill: Starvation in man. In: The New England Journal of Medicine. Band 282, No. 12, März 1970, S. 668–675, ISSN  0028-4793. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197003192821209. PMID  4915800. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill, T. T. Aoki: Starvation and body nitrogen. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 82, 1971, S. 43–51, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  4934018. PMC  2441035. (Review).
• P. Felig, E. B. Marliss, G. F. Cahill: Metabolic response to human growth hormone during prolonged starvation. In: The Journal of clinical investigation. Band 50, No. 2, February 1971, S. 411–421, ISSN  0021-9738. doi: 10.1172/JCI106508. PMID  5540176. PMC  291937.
• G. F. Cahill, T. T. Aoki, N. B. Ruderman: Ketosis. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 84, 1973, S. 184–202, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  4199621. PMC  2441301.
• G. F. Cahill: Starvation in man. In: Clinics in endocrinology and metabolism. Band 5, No. 2, Juli 1976, S. 397–415, ISSN  0300-595X. PMID  182420. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill: Human evolution and insulin-dependent (IDD) and non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDD). In: Metabolism: clinical and experimental. Band 28, No. 4 Suppl 1, April 1979, S. 389–393, ISSN  0026-0495. PMID  400563. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill: President’s address. Starvation. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 94, 1983, S. 1–21, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  6764569. PMC  2279566. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill, R. L. Veech: Ketoacids? Good medicine? In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 114, 2003, S. 149–161, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  12813917. PMC  2194504. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill, R. L. Veech: Ketoacids? Good medicine? In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 114, 2003, S. 149–161, ISSN  0065-7778. PMID  12813917. PMC  2194504. (Review).
• G. F. Cahill: Fuel Metabolism in Starvation. In: Annual Review of Nutrition. 26, 2006, S. 1–22, doi: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.26.061505.111258.

Awards (selection)

• Young Investigator Award of the Endocrine Society and the American Diabetes Association ^[13]
• 1963: Oppenheimer Award of the Endocrine Society ^[14]
• 1979: Gairdner Foundation International Award ^[15]
• 1980: member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ^[16]

References