Robert Ledley

Robert Steven Ledley ( born June 28, 1926 in New York City; † July 24, 2012 in Kensington, Maryland) was an American physiologist and inventor. He had a pioneering role in the use of electronic digital computers in biology and medicine.

Life

He was professor of physiology and biophysics and professor of radiology at Georgetown University in the Department of Medicine. In 1959 he wrote two influential scientific article: " Reasoning Foundations of Medical Diagnosis" ( with Lee B. Lusted ) and " Digital Electronic Computers in Biomedical Science". Both articles encouraged biomedical researchers and doctors of computer technology to operate. In 1960 he founded the National Biomedical Research Foundation ( NBRF ), a non -profit research organization dedicated to promoting the use of computers and electronic devices in biomedical research. Ledley was also the editor of several major peer-reviewed biomedical journals.

Developments

Ledley developed the first whole-body CT scanner and a computer, the automated analysis of chromosomes. In 1965 he began creating the first sequence database, the Atlas of protein sequence and structure. In 1984 he founded the Protein Information Resource.

Awards

  • In 1990, Ledley was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
  • In 1977 he was awarded the National Medal of Technology.

Publications (selection )

  • Computers in Biology and Medicine / Journal Vol 1, 1992
  • Fortran IV programming, 1966
  • Use of computers in biology and medicine, 1965
  • Cross - sectional anatomy, 1977
  • Engineering analysis of dental forces, 1969
  • Programming and Utilizing digital computers, 1962
  • A Digitalization, systematization and formula tion of the theory and methods of the propositional calculus, 1954
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