Person Muir; Isabella Helen Mary (1920 - 2005); biochemist Muir Isabella Helen Mary biochemist 1920 - 2005 British Female Naini Tal, India, Asia 20/08/1920 19200820 Her home, Langlands House, Hornby, near Bedale, Yorkshire, England. 28/11/2005 20051128 Burial: Local church at Hornby, near Bedale, Yorkshire, England.

Biochemist Biochemistry Arthrology Education: boarding schools in Montreux, Switzerland and Downe House, Berkshire, England; Somerville College, Oxford (1943); DPhil (1947); Dunn School of Pathology in Oxford (1947–8) Career: Dunn's School of Pathology, Oxford; National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill (1948-1954) (carrying out research into porphyrin synthesis with Prof Albert Neuberger); Pearl Assurance Arthritis Fellow, St Mary's Hospital, London,(1954-1966) (research into arthritis, in particular the extracellular matrix of cartilage); Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Hammersmith (1966-1990), Director (1977-1990) (established the molecular principles which form the foundation of the cartilage function and set in motion the molecular and cellular study of osteoarthritis); Honorary Professor, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School (1979-1990). Prizes: Feldberg Foundation Award, 1977; Neil Hamilton Fairley Medal of the Royal Society of Physicians, 1981; Steindtler Award of the American Orthopedic Society, 1993 Honours: CBE 1981 Parents: G. B. F. (Basil) Muir, a member of the Indian Civil Service, and Gladys Helen Mary, née Stack. Distinguished for her contributions to knowledge of the macromolecular structure of cartilages and of the changes that take place in articular cartilage as a result of ageing or arthritic disease. Collaborative work on collagen demonstrated that an extra-cellular component isolated from the fraction of skin soluble in phosphate buffers was a collagen precursor in a state of rapid turnover. She studied the effects of proteolytic enzymes and hyaluronidases on cartilage constituents and was the first to realise that seurine was concerned in the protein linkage of proteoglycans. She demonstrated the essential heterogeneity of cartilaginous structures in relation to growth degradation, mechanical wear and the function of the tissues. Her most recent work on the critical role of hyaluronic acid in the structure and properties of specialised cartilages may prove to be her most important contribution and extends her concept of the interactions of tissue proteoglycans and collagen in response to functional demand. Royal Society roles: Council: 1982-1983 Fellow 17/03/1977 56 Sources: Obituary in 'The Daily Telegraph' (15 December 2005) Muir I H M, IM003209.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.2017.0042 20 Aug 1920 - 28 Nov 2005 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 22/01/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA3992 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/47416547 0e43cd56-7992-4cc5-bfe5-fcb399536ae1