Rahamimoff, Rami
RAHAMIMOFF, RAMI
RAHAMIMOFF, RAMI (1937– ), Israeli physiologist. He was born in Sofia and immigrated to Israel in 1949. He received his M.D. from the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School (1963) and, after deciding on a research career, worked with Sir Bernard *Katz as a British Council Research Fellow (1965–66) and lecturer in biophysics (1966–68) in the department of biophysics of University College, London. He returned to the Hadassah Medical School as a senior lecturer in physiology (1969), where he was appointed professor of physiology from 1975, chairman of the division of basic medical sciences (1974–81), Jacob Gitlin Professor of Physiology from 1985, chairman of the department of physiology (1986–89), and director of the Bernard Katz Minerva Center for Cell Biophysics (1994–2005). Rahamimoff 's research interests developed with the undergraduate teaching he received from Jonathan Magnes and Joseph Dobkin. It concerns the regulation of the chemical transmitters in the nervous system which pass information from one nerve cell to another. He and his collaborator Fred Dodge developed a theory of cooperation between factors governing neuro-transmission that has been highly influential in progress in this field. Subsequently his laboratory has helped to clarify the significance of calcium and the functional significance of the fine anatomical details involved in neuro-transmission. His findings also have important implications for understanding the mechanisms that account for many diseases of the nervous system and their therapeutic control. Rahamimoff 's teaching distinction was recognized by his regular nomination as distinguished university lecturer, the many physiologists he trained, and his contributions to many prestigious international courses. He also made important contributions to scientific education and research as chairman and council member of national and international committees concerned with the neuro-sciences and physiology in general. He served as dean (1981–85) and director of the Center for Medical Education (1985–88) of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School (1981–85). From 2001 he was chief scientist of the Israel Ministry of Health and chairman of the committee responsible for the establishment of an Israeli Medical Research Council in 2002. His achievements were recognized by the award of the 1998 Israel Prize in life sciences.
[Michael Denman (2nd ed.)]