Gerard, R. W. (Ralph Waldo), 1900-1974

Ralph Waldo Gerard was a neurophysiologist, behavioral scientist, and academic known for his wide-ranging work on the nervous system, nerve metabolism, psychopharmacology, and biological bases of schizophrenia. He was born in 1900 and studied chemistry and physiology in Chicago. He was a professor at the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, and the University of Michigan. From 1963 to 1970 he served as Professor of Biological Sciences and Dean of the Graduate Division at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Gerard died in 1974.

Neurophysiologist, founder of University of Michigan Mental Health Research Institute, also faculty member at University of Chicago, University of Illinois, and University of California, Irvine.

Biography/Administrative History

Ralph Waldo Gerard was a neurophysiologist, behavioral scientist, and academic known for his wide-ranging work on the nervous system, nerve metabolism, psychopharmacology, and biological bases of schizophrenia. He was born in 1900 and studied chemistry and physiology in Chicago. He was a professor at the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, and the University of Michigan. From 1963 to 1970 he served as Professor of Biological Sciences and Dean of the Graduate Division at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Gerard died in 1974.

Ralph Waldo Gerard, neurophysiologist, behavioral scientist and educator, was born in Harvey, Illinois on October 7, 1900. Gerard graduated from high school in 1915, from the University of Chicago with a B.S. degree in chemistry in 1919 and was awarded a Ph.D. in physiology by the University of Chicago in 1921. Gerard began his teaching career as head of the departments of physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology at the University of South Dakota, 1921-1922. He headed the department of physiology at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, 1922-1924, and received his M.D. degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1924. After working with A.V. Hill at University College, London in 1925-1926 and with Otto Meyerhof at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin in 1926-1927, Gerard returned to the United States and joined the faculty of the University of Chicago. By 1942 he had risen to the position of professor of physiology and neurophysiology, a position he held until 1952.

During World War II Gerard directed special military research at the University of Chicago and in 1945 was the civilian in charge of the physiological aspects of chemical warfare experiments at Edgewood Arsenal, New Jersey. From 1952 to 1955 Gerard was professor of neurophysiology and director of laboratories at the Neuropsychiatric Institute of the College of Medicine, University of Illinois. Gerard helped to found the Mental Health Research Institute at the University of Michigan where he became a professor of neurophysiology in the departments of physiology and psychiatry in 1955. In 1963, during a sabbatical from the University of Michigan, Gerard was visiting professor at the University of California, Irvine. He joined the fledgling university in 1964 serving as professor of biological sciences and director of special studies. He was appointed dean of the graduate division in September 1964 and served in that position until his retirement in 1970. In 1955 Gerard was elected to both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. Ralph Waldo Gerard died February 17, 1974.

References: Gerard, Ralph W(aldo), in Current Biography, May 1965, 21-23.