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Authorised form of nameThomas; Roger Christopher; physiologist
NationalityBritish
Place of birthBromley, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Date of birth2 June 1939
Place of deathCambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom
Date of death17 December 2024
OccupationPhysiologist
Research fieldHomeostasis
Renshaw cells
Mitochondria
Physiology
ActivityCareer:
Head of Physiology at the University Cambridge (1996-2006), having moved from Bristol University where he had been both Head of Physiology and Dean of Medical Sciences.
Memberships: The Physiological Society
Membership categoryFellow
Date of election16/03/1989
Age at election50
PublishedWorksRCN 12473
OtherInfoInternationally recognised for his pioneering work on the development of ion-sensitive microelectrodes.
He invented the recessed tip electrode, allowing tip diameters of less than 1 micrometre and so permitting the use of these electrodes in a wider range of cells.
He used these microelectrode techniques to characterise the electrogenic sodium pump in neurons and has become an authority on intracellular pH and calcium regulation in large snail nerve cells. His methods have now largely been superseded by optical techniques and fluorescent indicators. His own experiments involve recording many variables simultaneously from single cells.
SourceThe Royal Society Fellows Directory, Professor Roger Thomas FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/roger-thomas-12405/; last accessed: 15/04/2025]
University of Cambridge, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, In Memorium, Professor Roger Thomas, Emily Rigby, 17 December 2024, [URL: https://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/news/memorium-professor-roger-thomas; last accessed: 15/04/2025]
Physiology News, From the Physiological Society, Obituary: Roger Thomas FRS (1939-2024), Schwiening, PDN, University of Cambridge, UK, [URL: https://www.physoc.org/physiological_news/obituary-roger-thomas-frs-1939-2024/; last accessed: 15/04/2025]
CodeNA4430
Archives associated with this Fellow
RefNoTitleDate
EC/1989/33Thomas, Roger Christopher: certificate of election to the Royal Society1982
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