Louis J. Ignarro
Scientists

Louis J. Ignarro Net Worth

Louis J. Ignarro is an American pharmacologist who won a share of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the properties of nitric oxide. He was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1941 and displayed an aptitude for chemistry from an early age. He went on to study chemistry and pharmacology at Columbia University and earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Minnesota. He then embarked on a career in drug development, during which he performed research on the properties of nitric oxide and its applications in the medical industry. He is the recipient of several awards, including the Basic Research Prize of the American Heart Association, and is the founder of the Nitric Oxide Society and editor-in-chief of ‘Nitric Oxide Biology and Chemistry.’
Louis J. Ignarro is a member of Scientists

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Pharmacologist
Birth Day May 31, 1941
Birth Place Brooklyn, NY, United States
Age 82 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Gemini
Alma mater Columbia University University of Minnesota
Known for Nitric Oxide
Awards Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1998)
Fields Pharmacology
Institutions Tulane University School of Medicine UCLA School of Medicine King Saud University

💰 Net worth

Louis J. Ignarro, a renowned pharmacologist in the United States, has an estimated net worth of $100K - $1M in 2024. With a career focused on studying the effects of nitric oxide in cardiovascular health, Ignarro has made substantial contributions to the field of medicine. His groundbreaking research on the benefits of nitric oxide in relaxing blood vessels earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998. Ignarro's wealth can be attributed to his successful career as a researcher, author, and entrepreneur, as well as his collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions.

Biography/Timeline

1941

Louis J. Ignarro was born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Italian immigrants and his father was a carpenter in Torre del Greco, near Naples. Ignarro grew up in Long Beach, NY, which is a suburb of New York City, NY on the south shore of Long Island, NY. Ignarro received his first chemistry set as a gift at the age of 8.

1962

Ignarro attended Central Grade School and Long Beach High School. A strong interest in science led Ignarro to Columbia University where he studied chemistry and pharmacology and in 1962 received a bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Ignarro then attended the University of Minnesota where he received a Ph.D. in pharmacology. His university studies also concentrated in chemistry, enzymology and cardiovascular physiology, which resulted in several published papers. While at the University of Minnesota, Ignarro studied under eventual Nobel Prize-winning Chemist Paul Boyer.

1968

Ignarro's work continued at the NIH in the fields he'd studied, collaborating with many other Scientists to discover regulatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system that would lead to his most famous work. This was his first time to apply his education outside of an academic setting. In 1968, Ignarro left the NIH to work for Geigy Pharmaceuticals. With this company, Ignarro helped develop new drugs and was able to continue research into new areas of pharmacology including cyclic GMP. After Geigy merged with Ciba Pharmaceuticals, Ignarro decided to move back to the world of academia, this time as a professor.

1973

In 1973, Ignarro accepted the position of Assistant Professor of pharmacology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA. Tulane was chosen partially because it would provide a good environment for continued research into cyclic GMP. While studying cyclic GMP, Ignarro read a paper by Ferid Murad, who demonstrated that nitric oxide elevates cyclic GMP levels. Ignarro then speculated that nitric oxide could be the key to relaxing vascular smooth muscles. In turn, this led to his extensive research on the subject. Ignarro's research demonstrated that nitric oxide serves the functions of vasorelaxant and inhibitor of platelet aggregation, with both effects mediated by cyclic GMP.

1984

Ignarro continued his research at Tulane. In 1984 he realized that the properties of nitric oxide were the same as those seen in the endothelium derived relaxing factor previously-identified by Robert Furchgott 3 years earlier. The exact nature of the EDRF was up to this point unknown. Interestingly, Furchgott and Ignarro came to similar conclusions about nitric oxide as the EDRF around the same time and both presented evidence at conferences during 1986 demonstrating nitric oxide's role as EDRF.

1985

During the decades since Ignarro and Furchgott's initial research, thousands of studies have been published about the effects of nitric oxide as the endothelium derived relaxing factor. This has led to the development of erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra and nutritional supplements designed for cardiovascular health and athletic performance. In 1985, Ignarro moved from New Orleans to Los Angeles where he accepted a position at the UCLA School of Medicine and continues to research and teach.

1998

Ignarro has published numerous research articles. He received the Basic Research Prize of the American Heart Association in 1998. This was in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular science. That same year, he was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences and the following year, into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Because nitric oxide is indirectly involved in the action of this drug, he is sometimes referred to as the "Father of Viagra".

2000

While testifying before Congress in 2000, Ignarro remarked: "Only in America could the son of an uneducated carpenter receive the Nobel Prize in Medicine".

2003

In 2003, Ignarro published a study based on ingredients found in Niteworks in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, where, as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, he can submit papers without review and without disclosing his financial interest to the publication. After Ignarro's ties to Herbalife were revealed, the journal issued a correction to the article, citing Ignarro's undisclosed "conflict of interest." UCLA conducted its own investigation and determined that Ignarro did not act improperly. Ignarro has publicly acknowledged the conflict of interest as a mistake and has continued to publish extensively on the subject of nitric oxide.

Some Louis J. Ignarro images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.