Sir Michael John Berridge FRS (1938-2020) was a distinguished molecular biologist whose pioneering work revolutionized our understanding of cellular communication mechanisms. Born in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), he developed an early interest in biology that led him to pursue a degree in Zoology and Chemistry at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, followed by a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1965 under Sir Vincent Wigglesworth. After postdoctoral studies at the University of Virginia and Case Western Reserve University in the USA, he joined Cambridge University in 1969 as Senior Scientific Officer in the Unit of Invertebrate Chemistry and Physiology. In 1990, he moved to the Babraham Institute as Deputy Chief Scientific Officer of the Laboratory of Molecular Signalling, later serving as Head of Signalling from 1996 to 2003, before becoming Emeritus Babraham Fellow upon his retirement in 2003.
Berridge's landmark discovery of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) as a universal calcium-releasing messenger fundamentally transformed the field of cell signaling, revealing how cells use calcium as a second messenger to regulate diverse physiological processes. His brilliant work began with studying fluid secretion in insect salivary glands, which led him to unravel a new chemical signaling pathway operating throughout the body. He demonstrated that external signals like hormones trigger the cleavage of a membrane lipid component to produce water-soluble messengers that diffuse into cells, generating various cellular responses. This groundbreaking research provided critical insights into the physiology of conditions including cancer, bipolar disorder, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders, establishing calcium signaling as a central paradigm in cellular biology.
Sir Michael's influence extended far beyond his laboratory discoveries through his exceptional ability to synthesize complex concepts into clear models that could be understood by specialists and non-specialists alike. He was a formidable lecturer sought after for keynote addresses at major international conferences where he spoke with exceptional clarity and authority about calcium signaling mechanisms. His numerous prestigious honors include the King Faisal International Prize, Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research and Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, culminating in his knighthood in 1998. Through the Sir Michael Berridge Prize established with his endowment, his legacy continues to inspire new generations of researchers at the Babraham Institute ensuring that his profound contributions to understanding cellular communication remain central to biomedical research worldwide.
