Terrell T. Gibbs, Ph.D., In Memorium
With sadness I share that Terrell Gibbs, PhD, associate professor of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, died Friday, August 15, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in his home state of Texas. A member of the BUSM faculty for 24 years, Dr. Gibbs received his undergraduate degree in biology from MIT and his doctoral training in pharmacology from Harvard Medical School. He pursued his interests in neuropharmacology, first at Downstate Medical Center in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY, and then at Boston University working in close collaboration with Pharmacology Chair Dr. David Farb.
Dr. Gibbs’ research involved elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of modulation of GABAergic function by benzodiazepines and neurosteroids and of CNS abnormalities such as autism. His discoveries were revealed in more than 45 publications and many abstracts presented at the Society of Neuroscience Annual Meetings.
A recent recipient of the Excellence in Education and Mentoring Award from the Neurosteroid Congress, he played a key role in the design and implementation of the curriculum for the Biomolecular Pharmacology Predoctoral Training Program at Boston University and guided innumerable PhD candidates. He taught medical, dental, and master’s degree students at BU the principles of pharmacology and the actions of drugs affecting the peripheral and central nervous system. All medical students over the past 23 years have learned the principles of pharmacodynamics under his tutelage.
His interest in pharmacologic research in many areas and rational evaluation of evidence of drug efficacy and safety were hallmarks of his approach as an educator and served as an outstanding role model for both students and faculty.
Dr. Gibbs also was renowned for his expertise in the martial arts, which he occasionally practiced on the Talbot Green.
He will be greatly missed by his students and his faculty and staff colleagues.
He is survived by his step-mother, brother and sister, half-sister and half-brother, and nieces and nephews.
To make a donation in memory of Dr. Gibbs please click here.