title: Commemorating John F. MacDonald and the Art of Being a Mentor.
abstract: John F. MacDonald was a close friend and mentor whose life was ended far too soon on April 22, 2014. To those who knew him, John was an endearing blend of fiery Scotsman, compassionate socialist, dedicated family man, and tireless investigator. Those close to him valued his loyalty and friendship, relished his biting wit, and puzzled at his self-deprecating manner. His career spanned a remarkable period of discovery from the early identification of excitatory amino acid, to the molecular cloning and characterization of glutamate receptors and the elucidation of mechanisms responsible for regulating their function. A true pioneer in each of these areas, John's research has had a lasting impact on our understanding of excitatory synaptic transmission and its plasticity. Our intent in commemorating John's work is to focus on some notable discoveries that highlight the impact and innovative aspects of John's work. In doing so, we also wish to highlight just how greatly our understanding of the glutamate transmitter systems has advanced since the late 1970s, when John first launched his independent neuroscience career.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics,College of Medicine,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4730-201X
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: 3Robarts Research Institute,Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry,University of Western Ontario,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Vania F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4994-6393
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: 3Robarts Research Institute,Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry,University of Western Ontario,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Marco A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Prado
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000266:history*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: Cellular; Electrophysiology; Neural plasticity; Neurodegenerative diseases; Stroke