Marcello Costa

Marcello Costa AO (born 9 January 1940) is an Italian-born Australian medical researcher, academic, and public health advocate. He specializes in the structure and functions of the enteric nervous system. He taught in Turin, Melbourne, and Helsinki before moving to Adelaide in 1975 where he was a foundation lecturer at the Flinders Medical School, building the new discipline of neuroscience at the college.[1] He has been at Flinders University since, where he is the Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Neurophysiology in the Department of Physiology.

Marcello Costa

AO
Born (1940-01-09) 9 January 1940
Turin, Italy
NationalityAustralian and Italian
Known forScientific basis of medicine
Medical career
ProfessionProfessor of Neurophysiology
FieldNeurophysiology
Institutions
Researchrole of neurons in controlling gut functions
Websiteflinders.edu.au/people/marcello.costa

He co-founded the Australian Neuroscience Society, the South Australian Neuroscience Institute (SANI) and the Friends of Science in Medicine (FSM). He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal and the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility Societies, and in 2020 he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Early life and education

Costa was born in Turin, Italy, on 9 January 1940.[2] In 1949 his family migrated to Argentina, where he attended San Martin high school and then in 1954 entered the public Italian High School Cristoforo Colombo of Buenos Aires, finishing the Scientific Lyceum in 1960. In his youth he was intrigued by science, even selling his bicycle so he could buy a microscope to study protozoa in ponds.[3]

He studied as an intern in the University of Turin's Department of Anatomy and Histology, working as a researcher under supervision of Giorgio Gabella. He was involved in a number of extracurricular activities including editor of the university newspaper l'Ateneo. Although he was enrolled in anatomy, he also incorporated physiology despite resistance from the university to this multidisciplinary approach.[4] He earned his degree in medicine (Laurea in Medicina e Chirurgia, equivalent to MB BS) from the University of Turin in 1967; his M.D. thesis was "The Adrenergic Innervation of the Alimentary Canal" with Dignita di Stampa (worthy of publication).[5]

Medical research career

"Our neurological systems link us to everything we do, shaping our thoughts, culture, intellectual capacity, emotions and our bodily functions. There is no area of science more important to understand, in my view."

— Marcello Costa, [3]

Upon graduating in 1967, Costa completed compulsory military service as medical officer, then he began lecturing at the University of Turin. The following year, he became a Medical Registrar and general practitioner in Italy. In 1970 he and his newlywed wife Daniela migrated from Italy to Australia. Initially he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow in zoology under Professor Geoffrey Burnstock at the University of Melbourne (1970–1973). In 1973 he also worked as a research fellow at the University of Helsinki in Finland, and then at the University of Turin.[2]

In 1975 he moved back to Australia, as a lecturer in Human Physiology at Flinders University. The discipline of neuroscience was new at the time, and he became a foundation lecturer in the field at the Flinders Medical School (now called the College of Medicine and Public Health). In 1986 Flinders University recognized his service by creating a personal chair in Neurophysiology, and in 2013 he was appointed the Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor in the College of Medicine and Public Health, and Professor of Neurophysiology.[2][3][6]

His research focuses on the nervous system, specifically how it interacts with the gut to control it, and he has authored or co-authored more than 250 works on that subject,[2] 72 review articles and chapters, and written two books.[5] He also made what Flinders University describes as "a range of landmark discoveries about the role of neurons in driving the activity of the gut, and in recognising that a person's neurological system shapes their thoughts, culture, intellectual capacity, emotions and our bodily functions".[1]

Costa's application of a systematic approach to new methods has made the neuronal structure of the enteric nervous system one of the best understood parts of the nervous system in mammals. Observations in this system have also guided understanding the function of neurons in the central nervous system. The studies he conducted into neuronal reflexes that enable intestinal motility and the neurotransmitters that are involved led to the discovery of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters.[7]

In 1983, Costa and John Furness organized the first meeting of the global leaders in the new field of enteric Neuroscience, which was held in Adelaide. In 2014 Costa collaborated with younger colleagues to organize a second such symposium in 2014 named "The enteric nervous system: 30 years later".[8]

He was a founder of the Australian Neuroscience Society, and he served as its president in 1994–1995.[9] In 2003 he founded the South Australian Neuroscience Institute (SANI) in association with neuroscience colleagues and the SA Government, representing the three SA Universities; he served as its co-chair from 2003 to 2010.[6]

Community engagement

In addition to his formal academic roles, Costa has promoted science-based medicine, philosophy of science and educating the general public, especially concerning neuroscience.

He is often called on by media to give expert commentary on a number of topics, including the evidence against acupuncture,[10] universities which give credibility to pseudo-scientific topics including chiropractic,[11] whether the free trade agreement between Australia and China should include "traditional Chinese medicine",[12] proposals to register traditional Chinese medicine,[13] and the "white light" reportedly seen by some dying people.[14]

He also promotes awareness of the connections between science and humanities, especially in a project called "Science Outside the Square" where he teams with Ian Gibbins, Professor of Anatomy at Flinders, playing keyboard while Costa sings and plays the guitar. Their performances aim to combine science, music, and art.[4]

Costa jointly founded the "Friends of Science in Medicine" (FSM) in 2011, and until 2019 he served as its treasurer.[15] The University of Adelaide described FSM as "a public health watch dog group of distinguished lay members, scientists and health professionals who are concerned about honesty in medical claims and the need for evidence-based medicine particularly in the growing alternative therapy industry".[16] He presented at the 2017 World Science Festival.[17] He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Australian Science Media Centre.[18] He was a solo speaker at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas in July 2018, speaking on "A neuroscientist's view of homo sapiens and its world".[19]

Personal life

Costa married Daniela Tuffanelli in 1970. The couple has a son, Andrea.[20]

Awards and recognition

His awards and recognitions include:[5][6]

  • 1988: Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science[7]
  • 1992: "Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana" from the Italian Government
  • 1994: Piedmontese of the Year
  • 1997: Honorary member of the Golden Key Honour Society
  • 2001: Centenary Medal Australia[21]
  • 2004: Member of the Australian Academy of Brain Sciences[2]
  • 2006: Flinders 40th anniversary medal for services to the university
  • 2008: "Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication" Award (jointly with Ian Gibbins)
  • 2008: Life member of the Centre of Neuroscience at Flinders University
  • 2010: Life membership of the ANS
  • 2012: Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor at Flinders University
  • 2012: (jointly with the other three founding members of FSM) – "Skeptics of the Year" by the Australian Skeptics Inc.[22]
  • 2014: Australasian Neuroscience Society medallion for "individuals who have provided outstanding service to the Society"[23]
  • 2015: Inducted as an Honorary Bragg Member of the Royal Institution of Australia (RIAus)[24]
  • 2018: Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (FNM) Societies Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his research and mentorship, which have substantially influenced progress in the fields[1]
  • 2020: Officer of the Order of Australia (General Division) "for distinguished service to higher education, and to medical research, in the field of neurophysiology, and to professional scientific bodies."[25][26]

Published books
  • Brookes, Simon; Costa, Marcello, eds. (2002). Innervation of the gastrointestinal tract: Volume 14 of Autonomic nervous system. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780415283779.
  • Burnstock, Geoffrey; Costa, Marcello (2013). Adrenergic neurons : their organization, function, and development in the peripheral nervous system. Chapman and Hall. ISBN 9781489972620.
  • Costa, Marcello; et al. (2013). Sensory nerves and neuropeptides in gastroenterology : from basic science to clinical perspectives. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781489907448.
  • Furness, John Barton; Costa, Marcello (2016). The Enteric Nervous System : 30 Years Later. Springer. ISBN 9783319275925.
gollark: I see. Well, I have basically no opinion on this.
gollark: What are the pros and cons of each?
gollark: Oh, did you experience an orbital bee strike?
gollark: You can't just randomly make your own characters.
gollark: They didn't. There's a standardization process.

References
  1. "Neuroscience leader receives international honour". Flinders In Touch. Flinders University. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. "Costa, Marcello – Biographical entry". www.eoas.info. Encyclopedia of Australian Science. 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2018 – via The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre.
  3. "Professor Marcello Costa". Flinders University – Engineering and Technology. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  4. Williamson, Susan (19 February 2014). "A neuroscientist's view". Australian Life Scientist. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  5. "Profile: Marcello Costa". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  6. "Professor Marcello Costa". www.flinders.edu.au. Flinders University – Flinders Medical Centre. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  7. "Fellows | Professor Marcello Costa". www.science.org.au. Australian Academy of Science. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  8. Brierley, Stuart; Costa, Marcello, eds. (2016). The enteric nervous system: 30 years later. Springer. p. v. ISBN 9783319275925 – via Australian Neuroscience Society.
  9. "Past Executive Members". www.ans.org.au. Australasian Neuroscience Society. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  10. Haggan, Megan (26 July 2016). "Acupuncture is 'pointless,' says FSM". ajp.com.au. Australian Journal of Pharmacy. Retrieved 2 March 2018. There is no longer any justification for more studies. There is more than enough evidence to confidently conclude that acupuncture doesn't work.
  11. Medew, Julia (6 December 2011). "Doctors take aim at chiropractors". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2018. Professor of Neurophysiology at Flinders University Marcello Costa, said universities running such courses were encouraging the spread of quackery, misusing public money and delaying effective treatments for people who falsely believed chiropractors could cure their illnesses.
  12. Lauder, Simon (18 June 2015). "Chinese medicine's mention in free trade deal 'a tragedy for Australian science'". ABC News. Retrieved 2 March 2018. the agreement would give unwarranted legitimacy to Chinese medicine.
  13. Robotham, Julie (1 April 2012). "Alarm bells sound on registration of Chinese medicine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  14. Noone, Richard (17 March 2016). "Heart attack survivor 'saw the light' in near death experience". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  15. "FSM Executive". Friends of Science in Medicine. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  16. "Emeritus Professor Alastair MacLennan". www.adelaide.edu.au. The University of Adelaide Staff Directory. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  17. "Marcello Costa 2017". www.worldsciencefestival.com.au. World Science Festival Brisbane. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  18. "Science Advisory Panel". www.smc.org.au. Australian Science Media Centre. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  19. "Speaker: Professor Marcello Costa". Adelaide Festival of Ideas. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  20. "Congratulations to Prof Marcello Costa!". www.scienceinmedicine.org.au. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  21. "Award extract – Costa, Marcello, Centenary Medal". honours.pmc.gov.au. Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 2 March 2018. For service to Australian society and science in neurophysiology
  22. "Merit Awards". Australian Skeptics Inc. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  23. "The ANS Medallion – Australasian Neuroscience Society Inc". www.ans.org.au. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  24. "Bragg Fellow Bios". RiAus. Royal Institution of Australia. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  25. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (8 June 2020). "Queen's Birthday 2020 Honours List | Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia". www.gg.gov.au. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  26. "Queen's Birthday 2020 Honours: The full list of this year's winners". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 June 2020. p. 17. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
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