Salvador Moncada

University of Manchester


Primary Section: 42, Medical Physiology and Metabolism
Membership Type:
International Member (elected 1994)

Biosketch

Professor Moncada’s scientific career began at the Royal College of Surgeons, where he was part of the team that discovered the mechanism of action of aspirin-like drugs, thus explaining their therapeutic actions as well as their main side effect, gastric damage. During his time at the Wellcome Research Laboratories he led the team that discovered thromboxane synthase and the vasodilator prostacyclin. This work is the bases for the understanding of how, low doses of aspirin, prevent cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes and it also explains the cardiovascular side effects of the so-called COX2 inhibitors. In the 1980’s he identified nitric oxide as a biological mediator, the mechanism of its biosynthesis and many of its biological functions. As Director of Research at Wellcome, he oversaw the work that resulted in the discovery and development of several new medicines, including, Lamotrigine, Atovaquone, Somig and Lapatinib. In 1995 he founded the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at University College London, which he directed until 2013. From 2013 to 2018 he was at the University of Manchester, first as a Director of the Institute of Cancer Sciences and later as Cancer Domain Director. He es professor Emeritus of  University College London and of The University of Manchester in the UK. 

Research Interests

I am interested in pathophysiology of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. I also have an interest in vasoactive substances including nitric oxide, products of arachidonic acid metabolism and endothelium.

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