Brief Chronology

  • 1912 --Born in New York City (May 30); son of Isadore Axelrod, a basketmaker, and Molly Liechtling Axelrod
  • 1929 --Enrolled at New York University (NYU)
  • 1930 --Transferred to City College of New York (CCNY); studied history, philosophy, literature, and biology
  • 1933 --Received BS in biology, CCNY
  • 1933-35 --Laboratory assistant in Harriman Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, NYU Medical School
  • 1935-46 --Chemist position, Laboratory of Industrial Hygiene, New York City Department of Health
  • 1938 --Married Sally Taub; 2 children
  • 1941 --Received MS in chemistry, NYU, after taking post-graduate night courses
  • 1946-49 --Research associate with Bernard B. Brodie at Goldwater Memorial Hospital on Welfare Island, New York
  • 1949-55 --Moved to National Heart Institute (NHI), National Institutes of Health; continued work with Brodie until 1954
  • 1949-50 --Associate chemist, Section on Chemical Pharmacology, NHI
  • 1950-53 --Chemist, NHI
  • 1953-55 --Senior chemist, NHI
  • 1955 --Completed PhD thesis in pharmacology at the George Washington University; completes thesis "The Fate of Phenylisopropylamines" under George Mandel
  • 1955-84 --Chief, Section on Pharmacology, Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • 1958-61 --Discovered reuptake action in neurotransmitter norepinephrine
  • 1960-65 --Studied pineal gland; developed "melatonin hypothesis"
  • 1967 --Received Gairdner Foundation International Award
  • 1970 --Shared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Sir Bernard Katz and Ulf von Euler (announced Oct. 10; awarded Dec. 10)
  • 1970 --Member, Psychopharmacology Study Section, NIMH
  • 1984 --Retired formally from NIMH; continued as unpaid Guest Researcher at NIMH, Laboratory of Cell Biology (now Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation)
  • 1987 --Julius Axelrod Distinguished Lecture in Neuroscience established at CCNY by Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation
  • 1992 --One Day Scientific Symposium and 80th Birthday Celebration in Honor of Julie Axelrod (Sept. 18)
  • 1996 --Named Scientist Emeritus of the National Institutes of Health
  • 2004 --Died at his home in Rockville, MD (December 29)