# George F. Cahill Jr.

George F. Cahill Jr. (July 7, 1927 – July 30, 2012) was an American scientist who significantly advanced the diabetes mellitus research of the 20th century. He focused on metabolic research, especially concerning human glucose metabolism in diabetic and normal conditions; he also investigated the effect of hunger and fasting on metabolic pathways and ketose processes. He was author and co-author of nearly 200 articles in scientific magazines and books.

## Early life

George Cahill Jr. was born in New York City. He attended the Hotchkiss School and then completed a course of studies at the Yale University, graduating in 1949. In 1953, he earned a medical doctoral degree at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.

## Career

Cahill started working as a medical assistant at the Biochemical Department at the Peter Bent Bringham Hospital (today: Brigham and Women’s Hospital) in Boston. He was also involved in research at the Albert Baird Hastings laboratory from 1955 until 1957 before he transferred to the Joslin's Diabetes Center in 1958, after another clinical year. There, he took the place of research director when Albert Renold returned to Europe 1962. Cahill held the position until 1978. 1962 he became active in the research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), since 1972 as member of the advisory board and later as research director and finally vice president. He left the HHMI in 1990. 1970 he became a Harvard Medical School professor. Until 1990 he continued teaching classes, before he had been given emeritus status. Since 1989 Cahill taught a biology course for non-biologists at the Dartmouth College.

## Personal life

Cahill married Sarah ("Sally") duPont († 2010) in 1949. They had four daughters and two sons.

## Works (selection)

* Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 73, 1961, S. 22–29, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 13875555. PMC 2249046.
* G. F. Cahill, O. E. Owen: Starvation and survival. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 79, 1968, S. 13–20, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 5667163. PMC 2441175.
* O. E. Owen, P. Felig, A. P. Morgan, J. Wahren, G. F. Cahill: Liver and kidney metabolism during prolonged starvation. In: The Journal of clinical investigation. Band 48, No. 3, März 1969, S. 574–583, ISSN 0021-9738. doi:10.1172/JCI106016. PMID 5773093. PMC 535723.
* P. Felig, E. Marliss, O. E. Owen, G. F. Cahill: Blood glucose and gluconeogenesis in fasting man. In: Archives of internal medicine. Band 123, No. 3, März 1969, S. 293–298, ISSN 0003-9926. PMID 4885676. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill: Starvation in man. In: The New England Journal of Medicine. Band 282, No. 12, März 1970, S. 668–675, ISSN 0028-4793. doi:10.1056/NEJM197003192821209. PMID 4915800. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill, T. T. Aoki: Starvation and body nitrogen. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 82, 1971, S. 43–51, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 4934018. PMC 2441035. (Review).
* P. Felig, E. B. Marliss, G. F. Cahill: Metabolic response to human growth hormone during prolonged starvation. In: The Journal of clinical investigation. Band 50, No. 2, February 1971, S. 411–421, ISSN 0021-9738. doi:10.1172/JCI106508. PMID 5540176. PMC 291937.
* G. F. Cahill, T. T. Aoki, N. B. Ruderman: Ketosis. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 84, 1973, S. 184–202, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 4199621. PMC 2441301.
* G. F. Cahill: Starvation in man. In: Clinics in endocrinology and metabolism. Band 5, No. 2, Juli 1976, S. 397–415, ISSN 0300-595X. PMID 182420. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill: Human evolution and insulin-dependent (IDD) and non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDD). In: Metabolism: clinical and experimental. Band 28, No. 4 Suppl 1, April 1979, S. 389–393, ISSN 0026-0495. PMID 400563. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill: President’s address. Starvation. In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 94, 1983, S. 1–21, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 6764569. PMC 2279566. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill, R. L. Veech: Ketoacids? Good medicine? In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 114, 2003, S. 149–161, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 12813917. PMC 2194504. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill, R. L. Veech: Ketoacids? Good medicine? In: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association. Band 114, 2003, S. 149–161, ISSN 0065-7778. PMID 12813917. PMC 2194504. (Review).
* G. F. Cahill: Fuel Metabolism in Starvation. In: Annual Review of Nutrition. 26, 2006, S. 1–22, doi:10.1146/annurev.nutr.26.061505.111258.

## Awards (selection)

* Young Investigator Award of the Endocrine Society and the American Diabetes Association
* 1963: Oppenheimer Award of the Endocrine Society
* 1979: Gairdner Foundation International Award
* 1980: member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences