John Graham Nicholls. 19 December 1929–13 July 2023

Abstract John Graham Nicholls was a leading neurobiologist who significantly contributed to our understanding of nerve cell communication and regeneration after injury. Rather than focusing on a single mechanism, each experimental observation led John to explore new questions through elegant experiments conducted with his own hands alongside numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Basel and Trieste. John was renowned worldwide for his scientific achievements, his multifaceted personality, graceful writing, legendary lectures, and sharp sense of humour. He co-established the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford Medical School. His co-authored book From neuron to brain (1st edn, with S. W. Kuffler, Sinauer Associates, 1976) was the first in the field of neurobiology. Its reading has inspired countless young readers to pursue careers in neuroscience. John’s dedication to neuroscience education led him to give neuroscience courses on all five continents. While he received numerous international honours, his true satisfaction came from his family, his experimental discoveries, and the inspiration he instilled in young students. John Nicholls left an indelible legacy for his multiple friends and colleagues worldwide. He died peacefully at home on 30 July 2023.