Person Needham; Dorothy Mary Moyle (1896 - 1987); biochemist Needham Dorothy Mary Moyle biochemist 1896 - 1987 British Female London, England 22 September 1896 18960922 Her home at 42 Grange Road, Cambridge, England 22/12/1987 19871222 Funeral: Caius College chapel, Cambridge, followed by cremation (31 December 1987).

1 Owlstone Road, Cambridge, England (1945)

Biochemist Biochemistry Musculature Education: Claremont College, Stockport; St Hilary's School, Alderley Edge; Girton College, Cambridge. Natural Science Tripos (Part I, 1918; Part II (Chemistry) 1919), BA and MA (1923); PhD (1926) ScD (1945, Cambridge) Career: Reseached aerobic synthesis of glycogen, Food Investigation Board, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, at the Sir William Dunn Institute; Beit Memorial Fellow (1925-1928) and worked with her husband; pioneered the study of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) in muscle contraction (1930-1940); Chemical Defence Research Group under Malcolm Dixon (FRS 1942) working on the effects of chemical weapons on skin and bone-marrow (1940-1944); in China (1944-1945); Associate Director, Sino-British Co-operation Office; returned to the Sir William Dunn Institute, Cambridge to work on enzyme biochemistry; funded by Medical Research Council grants (to 1952), then by Broodbank Fund, Cambridge University (1952-1955), and ultimately by the Agricultural Research Council; Fellow of Girton College, Fellow and co-founder of Lucy Cavendish College; first woman Fellow of Gonville and Caius College; organized a discussion meeting at the Royal Society on vertebrate smooth muscle physiology, jointly with Edith Bulbring (FRS 1958) (1972); retired from Caius (1976); died from Alzheimer's disease. Parents: John Thomas Moyle, a civil servant at the Patent Office, and Ellen Daves. Spouse: (1924) Joseph Needham (FRS 1941). The Needhams became the Royal Society's first married couple. Renowned for her work on the biochemistry of muscle. Discovered (independently of Meyerhof) the coupling of the synthesis of phosphoric esters with oxidation processes, which revealed the mechanism by which the free energy of such processes is made available in living matter. Her pioneer work on succinate in muscle, and on transfer of amino groups and phosphate groups, laid the foundations for important later developments, especially the discovery of catalysis by the C4 acids and of transaminases. Made many other important contributions to the subject. She was a hobbyist watercolour painter. Fellow 18/03/1948 Archibald Vivian Hill Francis Hugh Adam Marshall Frederick Gowland Hopkins Carl Frederick Abel Pantin Charles Samuel Hanes Marjory Stephenson Albert Charles Chibnall David Keilin Malcolm Dixon AssocMaterial: NCUACS 22/7/90; NCUACS 37/9/52. Papers deposited in Girton College Library, Cambridge References: Joan Mason, 'The Women Fellows' Jubilee' in NR 1995 vol 49 pp 125-140 Royal Society Council Minutes vol. 24 (1970-1973), p. 360 Obituaries: Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 2003 vol 49 pp 351-366, plate, by Mikulas Teich Needham D M, IM003238.jpg ©Godfrey Argent Studio 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.2003.0020 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Needham%2C+Dorothy+Mary+Moyle RCN 22982 RCN 22983 RCN R79642 RCN R82729 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/image-rs-14151 22 Sep 1896 - 22 Dec 1987 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 11/12/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8000 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/2791723 327f6dce-662d-4c82-aee4-0da6d3fd2d5f