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The Physiological Society
 The Physiological Society, founded in 1876, is an international learned society for physiologists with headquarters in the United Kingdom and Ireland. HistoryThe Physiological Society was founded in 1876 as a dining society "for mutual benefit and protection" by a group of 19 physiologists, led by John Burdon Sanderson and Michael Foster, as a result of the 1875 Royal Commission on Vivisection and the subsequent 1876 Cruelty to Animals Act.[1] Other founding members included: William Sharpey, Thomas Huxley, George Henry Lewes, Francis Galton, John Marshall, George Murray Humphry, Frederick William Pavy, Lauder Brunton, David Ferrier, Philip Pye-Smith, Walter H. Gaskell, John Gray McKendrick, Emanuel Edward Klein, Edward Schafer, Francis Darwin, George Romanes, and Gerald Yeo. The aim was to promote the advancement of physiology. Charles Darwin and William Sharpey were elected as the society's first two Honorary Members. The society first met at Sanderson's London home. The first rules of the society offered membership to no more than 40, all of whom should be male "working" physiologists.[2] Women were first admitted as members in 1915 and the centenary of this event was celebrated in 2015.[3] Michael Foster was also founder of The Journal of Physiology in 1878, and was appointed to the first Chair of Physiology at the University of Cambridge in 1883. The archives are held at the Wellcome Library.[4] Present dayThe Society is the oldest and largest network of physiologists in Europe, consisting of members from over 60 countries. The Society’s membership has included at least 61 Nobel laureates, in Physiology or Medicine (n=55), Chemistry (n=5) or Peace (n=1). The majority of members are engaged in research, in universities or industry, into how the body works in health and disease and in teaching physiology in schools and universities. The Society also facilitates communication between scientists and with other interested groups. The Physiological Society publishes the academic journals The Journal of Physiology and Experimental Physiology, and with the American Physiological Society publishes the online only, open access journal Physiological Reports.[5] It also publishes the membership magazine Physiology News. In August 2024 The Society announced its first new wholly owned journals in over 100 years, with the launch of The Journal of Precision Medicine: Health and Disease and The Journal of Nutritional Physiology. The society is based at Hodgkin Huxley House in Farringdon, London, named after Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley.[6] PresidentsThe post of president was established in 2001, and the society's current president is David Attwell. Past holders include:[7]
PrizesThe Society awards a number of prizes for meritorious achievement.[9] Annual Review Prize LectureThe society considers its Annual Review Prize Lecture, first awarded in 1968, to be its premier award.[9] International Prize Lecture
Bayliss-Starling Prize LectureNamed for William Bayliss and Ernest Starling. Originally awarded every three years, since 2015 it is awarded annually alternating between established and early-career physiologists.[10]
Biller Prize LectureNamed in memory of Kathy Biller. Given to a worker in the field of renal or epithelial physiology, under 35 years old. It has now been discontinued.[10]
G L Brown Prize LectureNamed for George Lindor Brown. These lectures are delivered at various institutions and intended to stimulate an interest in physiology.[10]
G W Harris Prize LectureNamed in memory of Geoffrey Harris. Now discontinued.[10]
Hodgkin–Huxley–Katz Prize LectureNamed after Alan Hodgkin, Andrew Huxley and Bernard Katz, and normally awarded to a physiologist from outside the UK or Ireland.[10]
Joan Mott Prize LectureMichael de Burgh Daly Prize LectureNamed for Michael de Burgh Daly.
Otto Hutter Teaching PrizeNamed for Otto Hutter, and awarded to teachers of undergraduate physiology.[10]
The President's LectureInitiated in 2017, the President’s Lecture is awarded by the President of The Society to a recipient of their choosing. This prestigious lecture is awarded at the discretion of The Society’s President.
R Jean Banister Prize LectureNamed for R Jean Banister. Awarded to an early-career physiologist and delivered at various institutions.[10]
The Paton LectureNamed for William D.M. Paton, and given on a historical aspect of physiology.[10]
Annual Public LectureIntended to raise awareness and understanding of physiology among the general public and schools.[10]
Sharpey-Schafer Lecture and PrizeNamed after Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer. Awarded alternating between established and early-career physiologists.[10]
Wellcome Prize LectureAwarded to young physiologists (under 40). Now discontinued.[10]
GSK Prize LectureAwarded to early-career physiologists. Now discontinued.[10]
References
Further reading
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