History

Professor Hans Kosterlitz (1903 – 1996) was one of the University of Aberdeen's most famous scientists who co-discovered that the brain produces morphine-like chemicals. Together with his colleague John Hughes, Hans Kosterlitz won an international race to identify naturally occurring endorphins which affect both how we feel pleasure and help fight pain (Nature, 1975). The Unit for Research on Addictive Drugs (URAD) based at Marischal College remained at the forefront of opioid research for the next 10 - 15 years, supported by the Medical Research Council and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the United States. During these years, Kosterlitz received many awards, prizes, and lectureships. They included the Schmiedeberg Plakette of the German Pharmacological Society, the Wellcome Gold Medal of the British Pharmacological Society, the Royal medal of the Royal Society of London and the Albert Lasker award.