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David Selwyn Nelson
OBITUARY
David Selwyn Nelson A fairly recent appointee to the Editorial Board, David Nelson was valued for the high ethical standards he set, his sound judgment, and his breadth of knowledge. His sudden death is a loss to the Journal, to science, and to his family and friends. David Selwyn Nelson had a remarkable and prolific scientific career, spanning the three decades from 1958 to 1989. Born in 1935, he received his medical training at the University of Sydney, the Ph.D. degree from the Australian National University and a D.Sc. from the University of Sydney. In his early years, he had research training at Yale University, University of Sydney, University of Florida, Australian National University, and Cambridge. Since 1974, he has been Director of the Kolling Institute of Medical Research at the Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. Over these three decades, David's incredible curiosity and scientific talents probed almost all aspects of immunity and inflammation in vivo. Although much of his work centered about the pivotal role of macrophages, he tirelessly investigated most of the other elements of the immune response, including T cells, B cells, antibodies, and mast cells. Throughout his work he tried to and indeed successfully analyzed the role of these elements in the destruction of tumor cells and microbes, delayed hypersensitivity, graft-versus-host reactions, graft rejection, autoimmunity, natural immunity, coagulation, and myelopoiesis. Over the years, David returned again and again to look at new strands, elements, and interconnections in these complex reactions in vivo. Among his many cardinal contributions were analyses of immune adherence of bacteria to erythrocytes and leukocytes, the role of various cellular elemer, ts and coagulation factors in delayed hypersensitivity, the role of cytophilic antibodies in vivo, the role of various cellular elements in delayed hypersensitivity reactions, destructive interactions between macrophages and tumor cells, the bases of natural immunity, immune responses to a variety of neoplasms, and regulation of other cells by macrophages. For the past several years, David had particularly concentrated his efforts on the role of inflammation in the destruction of tumors and how tumors suppress inflammatory responses, particularly in regard to low-molecular-weight, viral-like peptides. From these studies emerged over 170 major publications in all of the best immunologic journals. A major facet of David's scholarship was his continuing and successful attempts to review, analyze critically, and synthesize the current literature. Throughout his career, David was called upon to write critical reviews, which were well and widely received and set the tone for the field. Over his career in immunology, David produced over 25 such reviews, in publications such as British Medical Journal, Advances in Immunology, Critical Reviews of Microbiology, Progress in Allergy, and Australian Journal of Experimental Biology. Among David's most distinguished scholarly accomplishments was the book Macrophages in Immunity, which he wrote single-handedly. This superb and critically acclaimed book was a scholarly tourde-force, surveying the entire scope of the macrophage field as it was known in 1969 and surely stands as an achievement which will not likely be repeated. In all of these works, David's scholarship, breadth of knowledge, sophisticated biological point of view, desire for relevance and linkage, and clear thinking shone through. Human Immunology 28, 343-344 (1990) © American Society for Histocompatibility and lmmunogenetics, 1990
343 0198-8859/90/$3.50
344
Adams and Amos Over his distinguished career, David received many honors, including the Bancroft Prize of the University of Sydney, his appointment as director of a major medical research institute at the age of 39, numerous academic honors and appointments, and membership on a most impressive array of national and international immunologic committees. His major editorial services included a stint as editor of Pathology and being a member of the editorial board of this journal. David, a warm and luminous man, always had a twinkle in his eye and a characteristic breaking smile on his face. He made innumerable close friends throughout a broad section of the scientific community around the world. Those who had the privilege of knowing him cherished him as much for his charm, wit, and warmth as for his researches and analyses of major problems in immunology. David was a natural teacher and loved to nurture the career of young scientists. He spent many happy hours with students, younger scientists, and colleagues advising, teaching, counseling, guiding, helping, and always encouraging their best efforts. One cannot portray David without mentioning his quiet and pleasant but rigorous and effective rectitude and probity, particularly in regard to science, and one cannot leave him without a sideways glance at the other great devotion, which he shared with his wife, Peggy, and his daughter, Vicki, namely, small boat sailing. David Nelson died in Sydney in November. His death is a significant loss and will be deeply felt by many. DOLPH O. ADAMS D. BERNARD AMOS
David Selwyn Nelson A fairly recent appointee to the Editorial Board, David Nelson was valued for the high ethical standards he set, his sound judgment, and his breadth of knowledge. His sudden death is a loss to the Journal, to science, and to his family and friends. David Selwyn Nelson had a remarkable and prolific scientific career, spanning the three decades from 1958 to 1989. Born in 1935, he received his medical training at the University of Sydney, the Ph.D. degree from the Australian National University and a D.Sc. from the University of Sydney. In his early years, he had research training at Yale University, University of Sydney, University of Florida, Australian National University, and Cambridge. Since 1974, he has been Director of the Kolling Institute of Medical Research at the Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. Over these three decades, David's incredible curiosity and scientific talents probed almost all aspects of immunity and inflammation in vivo. Although much of his work centered about the pivotal role of macrophages, he tirelessly investigated most of the other elements of the immune response, including T cells, B cells, antibodies, and mast cells. Throughout his work he tried to and indeed successfully analyzed the role of these elements in the destruction of tumor cells and microbes, delayed hypersensitivity, graft-versus-host reactions, graft rejection, autoimmunity, natural immunity, coagulation, and myelopoiesis. Over the years, David returned again and again to look at new strands, elements, and interconnections in these complex reactions in vivo. Among his many cardinal contributions were analyses of immune adherence of bacteria to erythrocytes and leukocytes, the role of various cellular elemer, ts and coagulation factors in delayed hypersensitivity, the role of cytophilic antibodies in vivo, the role of various cellular elements in delayed hypersensitivity reactions, destructive interactions between macrophages and tumor cells, the bases of natural immunity, immune responses to a variety of neoplasms, and regulation of other cells by macrophages. For the past several years, David had particularly concentrated his efforts on the role of inflammation in the destruction of tumors and how tumors suppress inflammatory responses, particularly in regard to low-molecular-weight, viral-like peptides. From these studies emerged over 170 major publications in all of the best immunologic journals. A major facet of David's scholarship was his continuing and successful attempts to review, analyze critically, and synthesize the current literature. Throughout his career, David was called upon to write critical reviews, which were well and widely received and set the tone for the field. Over his career in immunology, David produced over 25 such reviews, in publications such as British Medical Journal, Advances in Immunology, Critical Reviews of Microbiology, Progress in Allergy, and Australian Journal of Experimental Biology. Among David's most distinguished scholarly accomplishments was the book Macrophages in Immunity, which he wrote single-handedly. This superb and critically acclaimed book was a scholarly tourde-force, surveying the entire scope of the macrophage field as it was known in 1969 and surely stands as an achievement which will not likely be repeated. In all of these works, David's scholarship, breadth of knowledge, sophisticated biological point of view, desire for relevance and linkage, and clear thinking shone through. Human Immunology 28, 343-344 (1990) © American Society for Histocompatibility and lmmunogenetics, 1990
343 0198-8859/90/$3.50
344
Adams and Amos Over his distinguished career, David received many honors, including the Bancroft Prize of the University of Sydney, his appointment as director of a major medical research institute at the age of 39, numerous academic honors and appointments, and membership on a most impressive array of national and international immunologic committees. His major editorial services included a stint as editor of Pathology and being a member of the editorial board of this journal. David, a warm and luminous man, always had a twinkle in his eye and a characteristic breaking smile on his face. He made innumerable close friends throughout a broad section of the scientific community around the world. Those who had the privilege of knowing him cherished him as much for his charm, wit, and warmth as for his researches and analyses of major problems in immunology. David was a natural teacher and loved to nurture the career of young scientists. He spent many happy hours with students, younger scientists, and colleagues advising, teaching, counseling, guiding, helping, and always encouraging their best efforts. One cannot portray David without mentioning his quiet and pleasant but rigorous and effective rectitude and probity, particularly in regard to science, and one cannot leave him without a sideways glance at the other great devotion, which he shared with his wife, Peggy, and his daughter, Vicki, namely, small boat sailing. David Nelson died in Sydney in November. His death is a significant loss and will be deeply felt by many. DOLPH O. ADAMS D. BERNARD AMOS