An renowned Oxford don who faced death threats, letter bombs and HIV infected needles during his careerin the post, has died.

Professor Sir Colin Blakemore FRS, FMedSci, HonFRCP, HonFRSM, HonFRSB, HonFBPhS, MAE, Emeritus Professor of Physiology, University of Oxford, and Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford died on Monday (June 27).

The academic passed away peacefully at Sobell House surrounded by his daughters. 

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Professor Blakemore was a world-renowned neuroscientist and a passionate advocate for physiology who significantly contributed to our understanding of vision, and how the brain develops and adapts.

He was also influential in establishing the concept of ‘neural plasticity’ — how brain cells reorganise themselves in response to the environment after birth and even in adulthood.

Professor Blakemore’s career was no without controversy, with his tests on animals leading to a decades long hate campaign by animal rights activists, which saw him face death threats, letter bombs and HIV needles in the post.

David Paterson, head of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford, said: “As Colin’s last University Lecturer he appointed during his time as Waynflete Professor and Head of Department, I will always be grateful to him for his kindness and continued support over the years.

“This Department and British science owe Colin Blakemore, and his family, a great public debt for the bravery showed in defending animal research. 

“I was so pleased we could offer him a Festschrift last August after he was tragically diagnosed with motor neuron disease, and rename the Large Lecture Theatre as the Blakemore Lecture Theatre. 

“Colin was the most eloquent communicator of science, which was beautifully illustrated when I interviewed him for The Journal of Physiology in 2012. 

“From today, the Sherrington Public Understanding of Science Prize Lecture will be known as the Blakemore Public Understanding of Science Prize Lecture in recognition of the love and affection he was held by his many colleagues and pupils in Oxford and from around the world.”

Andrew King, Wellcome Principal Research Fellow and Director of the Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, said: “It is entirely because of Colin that I wanted to study the brain. When I was at school, I heard about his BBC radio Reith lectures and was spellbound by the inspirational and engaging way he told the story of the ‘Mechanics of the Mind’.

“I applied to do a DPhil with him and while his lab was full at the time, he later welcomed me to Oxford when I was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship. After a brief but successful collaboration, he remained a very close colleague and supportive head of department, helping to open up a number of opportunities that have been crucial to the development of my career. Colin was an outstanding scientist and the range of topics he worked on at different times is simply awesome.

“His remarkable ability to communicate science – whether it be to medical students or more widely – and to publicly and bravely address issues like the need for using animals in medical research also made him stand out.

“I always remained slightly in awe of Colin, but I’m also delighted to have been able to call him a good friend.

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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