In memoriam—norton herbert neff, ph. D. (1935–2022)

With sorrow, we announce that Norton Herbert Neff, ACNP Fellow Emeritus, died on September 5th, 2022, at the age of 87. He was elected to ACNP Membership in 1977 and became a Lifetime Fellow

in 2003. Born in Philadelphia, Norton completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Pharmacology and Chemistry at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. He did his

postdoctoral research under Bernard Beryl Brodie at the Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, National Heart Institute (1963–1965), and Erminio Costa at Columbia University (1965–1968). In

1968, Norton joined Costa in the newly established NIMH Laboratory of Preclinical Pharmacology at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital and became Chief Section of Biochemical Pharmacology in 1970. In

1984 he moved to academia to lead the Department of Pharmacology at the Ohio State University College of Medicine (1984–2000), where he was a Professor of Pharmacology, Neuroscience and

Psychiatry. He served as Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Education (2004–2007), and Director for Medical Student Research Education (2007–2010). Over his 42-year career, Norton made

groundbreaking contributions to the field of neuropsychopharmacology. His pioneering work expanded our knowledge of brain biogenic amine systems and helped to establish the neurochemical

bases of neuropsychiatric disorders and drug treatments as we know them today. By developing the techniques to measure monoamine metabolism, he contributed critically to our modern

understanding of dopamine synthesis and turnover, demonstrating light- stimulated activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the retina, and providing the first evidence for the regulation of

aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, an enzyme involved in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. His characterization of monoamine oxidases demonstrated their role in biogenic amine

metabolism and provided the foundational evidence for the use of MAO inhibitors as antidepressants. In other early work, he described the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme in the

brain, its role in regulating neuropeptide signaling and investigated GABAB, muscarinic, and adenosine receptor signaling. During his tenure at OSU, he teamed with his wife and longtime

research colleague, Dr Maria Hadjiconstantinou to publish seminal research on the regulation of L-DOPA decarboxylase in the striatum, the neurotrophic effects of GM1 ganglioside, and the

contribution of opioid peptides to nicotine’s action in the brain. Norton further distinguished himself as an academic and educator, tirelessly working with dedication and enthusiasm for his

students. Admired and cherished by all, he promoted graduate student education, advocated for research education, and established a fund to support the research training of medical

students. He was a wise and patient mentor and a caring teacher beloved by many. As an active and highly respected member of the OSU and Neuroscience community, he served in a number of

committee and editorial posts, was elected to the OSU Senate, sat on the OSU Foundation Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Norton was more than a gifted academician and scientist.

He was humble, with a quiet demeanor that radiated wisdom, thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend, art enthusiast, and talented

artist. He is survived by his wife Maria, sons Stephen and Erik, daughters Beth-Ellen and Lisa, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He touched many lives and will be missed.

AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA Michael J. McCarthy * Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral

Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1670 Upham Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA Maria Hadjiconstantinou Authors * Michael J. McCarthy View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Maria Hadjiconstantinou View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHORS

Correspondence to Michael J. McCarthy or Maria Hadjiconstantinou. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE McCarthy, M.J., Hadjiconstantinou, M.

IN MEMORIAM—Norton Herbert Neff, Ph.D. (1935–2022). _Neuropsychopharmacol._ 48, 576 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01510-2 Download citation * Received: 13 November 2022 *

Accepted: 13 November 2022 * Published: 05 December 2022 * Issue Date: February 2023 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-022-01510-2 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link

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