David Roderick Curtis 1927–2017

Pioneering neurophysiologist Professor David Curtis AC FAA FRACP FRS identified GABA and glycine as inhibitory neurotransmitters and laid the groundwork for L-glutamate's acceptance as the brain's key excitatory transmitter.
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David Curtis was a pioneer in the identification of excitatory and inhibitory transmitters released at synapses in the central nervous system. He made major contributions to the identification of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glycine as inhibitory transmitters released at inhibitory synapses. His work laid the foundation for the subsequent acceptance that L-glutamate was the major excitatory transmitter. David’s scientific work led to him receiving many accolades and honours, including Fellowships of the Australian Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society and a Companion of the Order of Australia.

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About this memoir

This memoir was originally published in Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 31(2), 2020. It was written by Stephen J. Redman and Robert Porter.

Fellow

David Curtis

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Conversation with scientist

Professor David Curtis, neurophysiologist

Professor David Curtis interviewed by Dr Max Blythe in 1993. Professor David Curtis was born in 1927 in Melbourne. He received a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Melbourne in 1950. After completing his medical training he spent from 1951 to 1953 as a resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and from 1953 to 1954 as a registrar at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
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