Nicolas Rasmussen

Last updated

Nicolas Rasmussen
Born(1962-02-00)February 1962
Paris, France
CitizenshipUnited States, Australia
Education BA (1983), MA (1986), M.Phil. (1987), PhD, (1992), MPH (2007)
Alma mater
Scientific career
Fields History and Philosophy of Science, History of Medicine
Institutions
Theses
  • The Genealogy of Inheritance: 19th Century Questions and Theories of Generation (1987)
  • Studies on the Determination of Organ Pattern and Organ Identity in Flower Development (1992)
Doctoral advisor Paul B. Green [1]
Other academic advisors Nick Jardine, Tim Lenoir, [2] Lucia B. Rothman-Denes, [3] William C. Wimsatt
Website http://www.nicolasrasmussen.com

Nicolas "Nic" Rasmussen FAHA (born 1962) is a historian of modern life sciences, and a professor in the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales. [4]

Contents

With major interests in the history of amphetamines, the history of drug abuse, and the history of clinical trials, he has higher degrees in history and philosophy of science, developmental biology, and public health.

Early life

Born in Paris in 1962 of American parents – computer scientist Norman L. Rasmussen (1928—2003), later director of IBM's Cambridge Scientific Center, and an important contributor to the development of time-sharing operating systems, [5] and Laura Sootin Rasmussen (1933—), later an organiser and officer of the National Organization for Women in New England [6] – he attended the Roxbury Latin School, near Boston, in Massachusetts.

Education

Having worked in biology research labs since his early teens, Rasmussen's undergraduate exposure to art history and theory spurred an interest in history and philosophy of science; and, as a consequence, he enrolled in a PhD program in Philosophy at the University of Chicago to pursue this field. He worked there with William Wimsatt for two years; and, after taking a master's degree, he went on to Cambridge University to study history of biology with Nick Jardine in the M.Phil. program in History and Philosophy of Science.

Then, in 1987 he took up a PhD scholarship in Biological Sciences at Stanford University; and, while pursuing doctoral research in plant developmental biology under Paul B. Green, he also continued working in history of science with Tim Lenoir.

In 2007, to allow him to become more involved in health policy scholarship, he took a master's degree in Public Health at University of Sydney Medical School.

Career

After postdoctoral training in history of science at Stanford and Harvard – and short term teaching positions in the field at Princeton and UCLA – he moved to a teaching position in history and philosophy of science at Sydney University (1994—1997) and, then, to the University of New South Wales in Sydney, where he is now a Professor.

In 2019 he was elected a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. [7]

Research

His research has dealt with the role of instrumentation in shaping scientific knowledge; the history of biotechnology, molecular biology and its cultural and intellectual history; the history of drug abuse and pharmaceuticals in the United States since 1900; and the influence of industry sponsorship on biomedical research.

He is best known for his focus on the ways in which experimental methods and technology can shape research disciplines, sociologically and intellectually, and on the related role of patronage in shaping scientific fields in the mid-20th century USA. [8] He has been principal investigator on several National Science Foundation (US) and Australian Research Council grants.

Works

His first book, Picture Control: The Electron Microscope and the Transformation of Biology in America, 1940–1960 (1998), won both the Paul Bunge Prize for 1999 , and the Forum for the History of Science in America's Book Prize for 2000. [9]

His second book, On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine (2008), is a widely cited history of the amphetamines in medicine and American culture. [10]

His third book, Gene Jockeys: Life Science and the Rise of Biotech Enterprise (2014), was shortlisted in the "basis of medicine category" of the 2015 British Medical Association's Medical Book Awards, and was highly commended by the judging panel. [11]

Footnotes

External media
Audio
Nuvola apps arts.svg Carla Nappi: Interview with Nicolas Rasmussen, author of Gene Jockeys: Life Science and the Rise of Biotech Enterprise, from New Books Network (30 January 2015). [12]
Video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Nicolas Rasmussen (2008): History of Amphetamines: (1) How Amphetamines Got Started [13]
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Nicolas Rasmussen (2008): History of Amphetamines: (2) Amphetamines At War [14]
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Nicolas Rasmussen (2008): History of Amphetamines: (3) Amphetamines in America [15]
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Nicolas Rasmussen (2008): History of Amphetamines: (4) American Amphetamine Addiction [16]
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Nicolas Rasmussen (2008): History of Amphetamines: (5) How to find More Information on the Military's Use of Amphetamine [17]
  1. Paul B. Green (1931—1998) was an eminent scientist in the field of plant morphogenesis (see Salisbury, D.F., "Plant biologist Paul Green dies at age 67", News release: Stanford University News Service, 25 August 1998.)
  2. Timothy Lenoir (1948—), of Stanford University, is known for his work in history of computer gaming, especially his involvement in the How They Got Game Project.
  3. Best known for pioneering a novel system to study how bacterial viruses take over the molecular processes of their host, she has been on the University of Chicago's faculty since 1974; see University of Chicago: Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology: Faculty & Research: Lucia B. Rothman-Denes, PhD. Archived 25 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  4. University of New South Wales: Faculty of Arts And Social Sciences: School of Humanities and Languages: People: Professor Nicolas Rasmussen.
  5. "RIP, IBM Cambridge Scientific Center, 1992; and Founder Norman Rasmussen, 2003", Smart Phones: Technology and Business Apps, (31 July 2011).
  6. She was also the sometime editor and publisher of the monthly women's rights newsletter called The New Broom (see Smith College Bulletin (1954–1955), p.55; ’54: Smith Alumnae Quarterly, (Fall 1954) p.63; ’54: Smith Alumnae Quarterly, (August 1957), p.262; ’54: Smith Alumnae Quarterly, (February 1972), p.53; '54: Smith Alumnae Quarterly, (November 1973) p.50; and '54: Smith Alumnae Quarterly, (November 1976) p.51)
  7. "Fellows". Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  8. Whilst Rasmussen's approach is sometimes identified with historical materialism, in his works, Rasmussen stresses that its basis is in the pragmatism of John Dewey.
  9. See Reeds, K., Forum for the History of Science in America Prize, (10 April 2001) Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine ; the Forum for the History of Science in America, founded in 1986, was formally acknowledged as an "Interest Group" of the History of Science Society in 1988 (see "About the FHSA", AmericanScience.)
  10. For example, Zaitichik, A., "The Speed of Hypocrisy: How America Got Hooked on Legal Meth", Motherboard, (30 June 2014).: "Anyone seeking to understand the treachery behind today's medical-industrial ADHD complex should begin with Nicolas Rasmussen's essential history, On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine. Rasmussen, a science historian at the University of South Wales, tells a story that ought to inform every media treatment of the subject, but never does."
  11. British Medical Association 2015 Book Awards: List of Medical Book Award Winners by Category (3 September 2015). Archived 7 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  13. "History of Amphetamines: How Amphetamines Got Started". Nicolas Rasmussen. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  14. "History of Amphetamines: Amphetamines At War". Nicolas Rasmussen. 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  15. "History of Amphetamines: Amphetamines in America". Nicolas Rasmussen. 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  16. "History of Amphetamines: American Amphetamine Addiction". Nicolas Rasmussen. 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  17. "History of Amphetamines: How to find More Information on the Military's Use of Amphetamine". Nicolas Rasmussen. 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2015.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphetamine</span> Central nervous system stimulant

Amphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. Amphetamine was discovered as a chemical in 1887 by Lazăr Edeleanu, and then as a drug in the late 1920s. It exists as two enantiomers: levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Amphetamine properly refers to a specific chemical, the racemic free base, which is equal parts of the two enantiomers in their pure amine forms. The term is frequently used informally to refer to any combination of the enantiomers, or to either of them alone. Historically, it has been used to treat nasal congestion and depression. Amphetamine is also used as an athletic performance enhancer and cognitive enhancer, and recreationally as an aphrodisiac and euphoriant. It is a prescription drug in many countries, and unauthorized possession and distribution of amphetamine are often tightly controlled due to the significant health risks associated with recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MDMA</span> Psychoactive drug, often called ecstasy

3,4-Methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, and molly or mandy, is a potent empathogen–entactogen with stimulant and minor psychedelic properties primarily used for recreational purposes. The purported pharmacological effects that may be prosocial include altered sensations, increased energy, empathy, and pleasure. When taken by mouth, effects begin in 30 to 45 minutes and last three to six hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of California, San Francisco</span> Public university in San Francisco, California

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a public land-grant research university in San Francisco, California. It is part of the University of California system and is dedicated entirely to health science and life science. It conducts research and teaching in medical and biological sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dextroamphetamine</span> CNS stimulant and isomer of amphetamine

Dextroamphetamine is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and enantiomer of amphetamine that is prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is also used as an athletic performance and cognitive enhancer, and recreationally as an aphrodisiac and euphoriant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adderall</span> Drug mixture used mainly to treat ADHD and narcolepsy

Adderall and Mydayis are trade names for a combination drug called mixed amphetamine salts containing four salts of amphetamine. The mixture is composed of equal parts racemic amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which produces a (3:1) ratio between dextroamphetamine and levoamphetamine, the two enantiomers of amphetamine. Both enantiomers are stimulants, but differ enough to give Adderall an effects profile distinct from those of racemic amphetamine or dextroamphetamine, which are marketed as Evekeo and Dexedrine/Zenzedi, respectively. Adderall is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is also used illicitly as an athletic performance enhancer, cognitive enhancer, appetite suppressant, and recreationally as a euphoriant. It is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the phenethylamine class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unani medicine</span> Traditional medicine from the Mughal empire

Unani or Yunani medicine is Perso-Arabic traditional medicine as practiced in Muslim culture in South Asia and modern day Central Asia. Unani medicine is pseudoscientific. The Indian Medical Association describes Unani practitioners who claim to practice medicine as quacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Norman Cohen</span> American geneticist

Stanley Norman Cohen is an American geneticist and the Kwoh-Ting Li Professor in the Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer were the first scientists to transplant genes from one living organism to another, a fundamental discovery for genetical engineering. Thousands of products have been developed on the basis of their work, including human growth hormone and hepatitis B vaccine. According to immunologist Hugh McDevitt, "Cohen's DNA cloning technology has helped biologists in virtually every field". Without it, "the face of biomedicine and biotechnology would look totally different." Boyer cofounded Genentech in 1976 based on their work together, but Cohen was a consultant for Cetus Corporation and declined to join. In 2022, Cohen was found guilty of having committed fraud in misleading investors into a biotechnology company he founded in 2016, and paid $29 million in damages.

Leemon McHenry is a bioethicist and Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at California State University, Northridge, in the United States. He has taught philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, Old Dominion University, Davidson College, Central Michigan University, Wittenberg University and Loyola Marymount University, and has held visiting research positions at Johns Hopkins University, UCLA and at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities in the University of Edinburgh. His research interests center on medical ethics, metaphysics, and philosophy of science.

Thomas Eugene Shenk is an American virologist. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Life Sciences in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry I. Miller</span> American medical researcher and columnist

Henry I. Miller is an American medical researcher and columnist, formerly with the FDA, and from 1994 until 2018 the Robert Wesson Fellow in Scientific Philosophy and Public Policy at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank located on the university's campus in California. He is an Adjunct Fellow of the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

The modern disease theory of alcoholism states that problem drinking is sometimes caused by a disease of the brain, characterized by altered brain structure and function.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Schafer</span> Canadian ethicist

Arthur Schafer is a Canadian ethicist specializing in bioethics, philosophy of law, social philosophy and political philosophy. He is Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, at the University of Manitoba. He is also a full professor in the Department of Philosophy and an ethics consultant for the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. For ten years he was head of the Section of Bio-Medical Ethics in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Manitoba. He has also served as visiting scholar at Green College, Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Kobilka</span> American physiologist

Brian Kent Kobilka is an American physiologist and a recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Robert Lefkowitz for discoveries that reveal the workings of G protein-coupled receptors. He is currently a professor in the department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is also a co-founder of ConfometRx, a biotechnology company focusing on G protein-coupled receptors. He was named a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2011.

Substituted amphetamines are a class of compounds based upon the amphetamine structure; it includes all derivative compounds which are formed by replacing, or substituting, one or more hydrogen atoms in the amphetamine core structure with substituents. The compounds in this class span a variety of pharmacological subclasses, including stimulants, empathogens, and hallucinogens, among others. Examples of substituted amphetamines are amphetamine (itself), methamphetamine, ephedrine, cathinone, phentermine, mephentermine, tranylcypromine, bupropion, methoxyphenamine, selegiline, amfepramone (diethylpropion), pyrovalerone, MDMA (ecstasy), and DOM (STP).

Gordon A. Alles, was an American chemist and pharmacologist who did extensive research on the isolation and properties of insulin for the treatment of diabetics. He is also credited with discovering and publishing the physiological effects of amphetamine and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA). He is the first person to have prepared amphetamine sulfate, although not the amphetamine molecule. Alles first reported the physiological properties of amphetamine as a synthetic analog of ephedrine, and therefore received credit for this discovery. He enjoyed large royalties from Smith, Kline & French (SKF) because he sold his patent rights for amphetamine to the company and it enjoyed large sales. Several popular products sold by SKF contained amphetamine, including Benzedrine pills and inhalers, Dexedrine pills and Dexamyl tablets. Counterfeit drugs such as Profetamine appeared, aiming to circumvent Alles' 'weak' patent.

Akira Ogata was a Japanese chemist and the first to synthesize methamphetamine in crystalline form in 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atul Butte</span> American medical researcher

Atul J. Butte is a biomedical informatics researcher and biotechnology entrepreneur. He is currently the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Distinguished Professor at the University of California, San Francisco. Since April 2015, Butte has serves as inaugural director of UCSF's Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela N. H. Creager</span> American biochemist

Angela N. H. Creager is a biochemist, historian of science, and the Thomas M. Siebel Professor in the History of Science at Princeton University, where she is also the director of the Shelby Collum Davis Center for Historical Studies. Prior to the Siebel chair's creation in 2015, she was the Philip and Beulah Rollins Professor of History. She served as president of the History of Science Society (HSS) from 2014 to 2015. She focuses on the history of biomedical research in the 20th century. In 2020 she was elected to the American Philosophical Society.

Alexandros Makriyannis is an American biochemist and professor of chemistry and chemical biology in the department of medicinal chemistry at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he directs the Center for Drug Discovery and holds the George Behrakis Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. His research has focused on the biochemical basis of the endocannabinoid system and on the development of synthetic cannabinoids.

References