Philip Needleman
Washington University in St. Louis
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Primary Section: 23, Physiology and Pharmacology Membership Type:
Member
(elected 1987)
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Research Interests
Dr. Needleman has made decisive contributions in four fields of pharmacology. He elucidated the pathway of nitroglycerin metabolism and the mechanism of organic nitrate tolerance; co-discovered the first angiotensin antagonist and studied the role of angiotensin in normal and pathologic cardiovascular and renal function; characterized the metabolic pathways and the role of arachidonic acid metabolites (prostaglandins, thromboxane and leukotrienes) in renal, platelet and cardiac function in normal and disease processes, including the discovery of the first thromboxane synthase inhibitor, and in 1989-90, discovered the inflammatory cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2), and discovered the bioactive cardiac substance with potent vasorelaxant natriuretic activity--antriopeptin, the hormone by which the heart communicates with the kidney, adrenals and brain.
