Nobel Laureate · Scientist · Storyteller
The Nobel Prizes are awarded every year since 1901 in Stockholm, Sweden on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. Fun Fact: Every December 10th, I celebrate my being awarded the Nobel Prize with a glass of Dom Pérignon Champagne in the Nobel Room of my home in Beverly Hills.
Dr. Lou Ignarro, PhD
Nobel Prize in Medicine, 1998
In the Nobel Room
The Discovery
The Nobel Prize is just a crazy dream for most people. In 1998, Dr. Lou Ignarro was awarded one of only 232 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine to date, since the Nobel Prizes began in 1901, winning it for his groundbreaking discovery of the unique signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO) and its many life-critical biological actions in the human body, ranging from lowering blood pressure to stimulating penile erection and sexual arousal. Yes, Dr. Ignarro is known as the “Father of Viagra.” But his far-reaching discovery has never been more urgently relevant to the world than it is today, as clinical trials have shown the curative effect of inhaled NO gas in patients suffering from COVID-19. At the age of twelve, a mischievous Dr. Lou Ignarro built what he thought was a firecracker…but it turned out to be more like a small bomb. Still, that was the beginning of his long, productive journey with the key explosive ingredient of nitroglycerin, which eventually led him to receive his Nobel Prize.
Stockholm · December 10, 1998
Four Decades of Research
Dr. Lou Ignarro has more than 40 years of experience as a research scientist, is Professor Emeritus of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, at UCLA, and was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998, along with Robert F. Furchgott and Ferid Murad, for his discovery of Nitric Oxide (NO) as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system. His pivotal work demonstrated that antioxidants increase NO levels by preventing the oxidative destruction of NO, a major advancement in our understanding of cardiovascular health, and he has since refined his research on NO to help people live more healthy, active lives and increase their longevity.
In the laboratory
Featured Book
Dr. Ignarro’s groundbreaking work was the basis for his 2005 book, NO More Heart Disease (more than 100K copies sold) and established him as the world’s leading authority on nutritional approaches to cardiovascular wellness. His paradigm-shifting research in neurophysiology also laid the foundation for the development of Viagra, which has since improved the lives of more than 200,000,000 men.
Dr. NO — The Discovery That Led to a Nobel Prize & Viagra
Louis J. Ignarro, PhD · Winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine
Recognition
Dr. Lou Ignarro has built a significant platform not only as a basic biomedical researcher, an active member of the National Academy of Sciences, and an Editor for multiple scientific journals, but also on social media, with more than 250K followers on Facebook alone, and commercially as a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board for which he helped to develop formulations of the Herbalife cardiovascular line.
In addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Ignarro has been honored to receive a number of awards, including the 2008 Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Heart Association and the 2007 Medal of Merit from the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. He is a former editor of the journal Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, sits on numerous scientific advisory boards and travels the world speaking to professional and lay audiences about the incredible powers of NO. At UCLA, he received 11 outstanding Golden Apple teacher awards voted by the medical students in the program.
1998
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
2008
Distinguished Scientist Award — American Heart Association
2007
Medal of Merit — Int’l Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences
11
Golden Apple teacher awards at UCLA
Followers on Facebook
NAS
Member, National Academy of Sciences
Giving Back
Beyond his professional pursuits, Dr. Ignarro has served as a board member of the nonprofit Operation USA. The organization helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease, and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction, and development aid. He has also served on the Board of Advisors and Scientific Advisory Boards of several biotech companies.
A Life Well Lived
The pursuits that keep Dr. Lou moving — on two wheels, on the rails, and behind the wheel.
On Two Wheels & On the Road
Dr. Ignarro has been an avid cyclist for many years, and has even traveled to Italy and France to bike in the mountains. Cycling not only is a way to stay fit but also affords the best way to explore and experience the beauty of the outdoors, both at and away from home. In California, he has joined his wife and friends to do many century rides, which are 100 miles of flat and hilly roads. For extra fitness, he rides indoors using a road bike attached to a resistance machine that is controlled by a computerized program on a large monitor where one can ride in many different countries and terrains (available from Zwift). In addition to cycling, Dr. Ignarro has enjoyed running, even 26.2 mile (42K) marathons. In the recent past, he completed 15 separate marathons in the U.S. and abroad.
Windmill Century Ride · California
Running / Marathon
15 marathons · 26.2 mi · photo to be added
Hobbies & Horsepower
Despite his busy schedule, Dr. Ignarro has managed to take on two key hobbies. One is model railroading and the other is enjoying fast cars. As a child, his dad helped him build a layout using Lionel trains. Sixty years later, Dr. Ignarro revisited this hobby and took 5 years to build a large layout using Lionel trains, which appeared in several Model Railroad magazines. As a late teenager, he joined a car racing club and learned to be a mechanic, where he built and raced Fords and Corvettes at the local NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) quarter mile raceway. He helped the club earn dozens of trophies for setting speed and elapsed time track records. Since then, he has always driven fast cars which include a Z06 Corvette, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, and a Mercedes G63 AMG.
Model Railroad
Lionel layout · photo to be added
On the Rails
A five-year Lionel layout, six decades in the making — featured in several Model Railroad magazines.
Fast Cars
Corvette · Porsche · Mercedes · photo to be added
Behind the Wheel
From racing Fords and Corvettes at the NHRA quarter-mile to a Z06 Corvette, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Taycan Turbo GT, and Mercedes G63 AMG.
Memorable Encounters
Since the Nobel Prize, Dr. Ignarro has had the opportunity to meet with many other celebrities. Such persons include former President Bill Clinton, Nobel Laureate James Watson, and Sir Elton John.
Former U.S. President — welcomed Dr. Ignarro to the White House just after the 1998 Nobel Prize.
View the Story
James Watson photo
Photo to be added
Nobel Laureate — a memorable encounter; a fuller story and photo will be added soon.
View the Story
Sir Elton John photo
Photo to be added
Musician & Knight — a memorable encounter; a fuller story and photo will be added soon.
View the Story
Former U.S. President
Just after the Nobel Prize was announced in 1998, I was invited to the White House to meet President Bill Clinton. The President escorted me throughout the White House, and we talked about my discoveries as well as his incredible workload as President. Bill Clinton is an extremely charming, likable, and knowledgeable person.
James Watson photo
Photo to be added
Nobel Laureate
A memorable encounter among the many figures Dr. Ignarro has met since the Nobel Prize. A photo and fuller story will be added here soon.
Sir Elton John photo
Photo to be added
Musician & Knight
A memorable encounter among the many figures Dr. Ignarro has met since the Nobel Prize. A photo and fuller story will be added here soon.
