Erik Thorsby

Erik Stein Thorsby (July 13, 1938 – March 23, 2021) was a Norwegian physician and professor at the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital. He carried out research in immunology, specializing in transplant immunology.[1][2]

Erik Thorsby
Born(1938-07-13)July 13, 1938
Oslo, Norway
DiedMarch 23, 2021(2021-03-23) (aged 82)
Oslo, Norway
OccupationPhysician
SpouseWenche Medbøe (divorced 1965)

Career

Thorsby studied medicine at the University of Oslo and graduated in 1963.[3] In 1969, he earned his doctorate in medicine.[3]

Thorsby introduced tissue typing and transplant immunology as a field of study in Norwegian medicine, used for identifying tissue type–compatible donors and recipients in transplants.[1] He was also involved in launching Scandiatransplant, the Nordic cooperation organization for organ transplants. He worked at Ullevål University Hospital and Oslo University Hospital.[3] He established the Tissue Type Laboratory at Oslo University Hospital in 1970, which later became the Department of Transplant Immunology.[4] Thorsby was the head of the department from 1970 to 1998.[1] In 1983 he became a professor at the University of Oslo.[3] He was also the chief physician at the Department of Immunology,[3] where he was the head of department from 1998 to 2006.[1] From 1989 to 1990 he was dean of the University of Oslo Faculty of Medicine.[4] Thorsby became the president of the European Federation for Immunogenetics in 2002.[4]

Thorsby conducted extensive research in immunology, particularly on human leukocyte antigen molecules and transplant immunology. He studied the genetic origin of the indigenous people on Easter Island. A DNA study published in 2014 confirmed that the genetic background of the Rapa Nui people is mainly Polynesian, with 16% European elements and 8% from indigenous American peoples. The collection of genetic material from Native American peoples was dated to the period 1280–1495, long before the arrival of Europeans on the island in 1722.[5][6]

Awards

In 2004, the king appointed Thorsby a commander of the Order of St. Olav "for his research efforts in transplant immunology."[7] He received the Anders Jahre Medical Prize for junior researchers and the Norwegian Research Council's general science award for outstanding research.[3] Thorsby was elected a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1992.[3]

References
  1. Skålevåg, Svein Atle (2021). "Erik Thorsby". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  2. "Erik Thorsby: Minneord". Tidsskrift for den Norske Legeforening. May 25, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  3. Sildnes, Børge (March 25, 2004). "Kongelig utmerkelse". Dagens Medisin. 6 (4). Archived from the original on 2014-12-14. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  4. "Nytt om navn: St. Olavs Orden til Thorsby". Tidsskrift for den Norske Legeforening. 124 (8). April 22, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  5. Moreno-Mayar, J. Víctor; Rasmussen, Simon; Seguin-Orlando, Andaine; Rasmussen, Morten; Liang, Mason; Flåm, Siri Tennebø; Lie, Benedicte Alexandra; Gilfillan, Gregor Duncan; Nielsen, Rasmus; Thorsby, Erik; Willerslev, Eske; Malaspinas, Anna-Sapfo (2014). "Genome-Wide Ancestry Patterns in Rapanui Suggest Pre-European Admixture with Native Americans". Current Biology. 24 (21): 2518–2525. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.057. PMID 25447991. S2CID 13439165.
  6. Tyler-Smith, Chris (2014). "Human Genetics: Pre-Columbian Pacific Contact". Current Biology. 24 (21): R1038-1040. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.019. PMID 25517365. S2CID 15216482.
  7. "20.03.2004 Thorsby, Erik". Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer. Det norske kongehus. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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