Michael Newton Marsh

Gastroenterologist and authority on coeliac disease. He was born in Bristol, UK, May 15, 1937, died of prostate cancer Shilton, July 12, 2021, aged 84 years. Many clinician scientists can identify their publications that either established reputation or clearly embodied contribution to medicine. In the case gastroenterologist Michael Marsh it a paper “gluten, major histocompatibility complex, small intestine” published 1992 journal Gastroenterology did both became one most frequently cited papers nature “Before him there wasn’t much known about its histopathology”, says Kamran Rostami Department at Palmerston North Hospital, MidCentral District Health Board, New Zealand, sometime collaborator Marsh's. “He described pathophysiology how gluten damages bowel, immune system operates, spectrum abnormalities from very early advanced…his work important published.” David Sanders, Professor University Sheffield, Chair Advisory Council charity Coeliac agrees with assessment, adding “described disease so thereafter we all understood it. And this didn’t just affect researchers. It affected gastroenterologists day practice, also patients’ [understanding illness].” Marsh's fascination dated his time as registrar London's Hammersmith Hospital. had begun training UK degree anatomy cell biology Leeds, followed by medical Oxford. On qualifying 1962, after house jobs what Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford, during late 1960s moved Hospital where Sir Christopher Booth recently become interested mucosal changes bowel. 1971 awarded year long Medical Research Travelling Fellowship is now Boston Center, USA, Jerry Trier, an expert anatomy. Here learned cut thin, epoxy resin mounted sections bowel wall for microscopic examination. returning joined Faculty Medicine Manchester embarked research led, some 20 years later, paper. Manchester, “Mike built up large outpatient clinic, began learn lot more disease…including majority developed age 30, 40 50, not children”, explains Chris Mulder, Hepatology Amsterdam Centers Netherlands. Before fairly little histopathology Realising histological appearance gut patients disease, each various stages. These were soon known, although man himself, classification. “To day, 30 on”, “I’m still writing I’m saying samples categorised according criteria.” The paper, densely argued account causes profound impact. recalling before work, points out that, “In mainstream gastroenterology, considered be illness…Mike driving force developing western Europe thinking it.” Sanders describes tenacious. “And he person constrained other peoples’ thoughts. independent thinker...He would go meetings listen experts field but necessarily accept [everything heard]. That's researcher.” broad interests, ranging architecture history Catholic Church, Mulder. “You could talk anything because well read...he solely focused which part life.” Mulder entirely surprised when 2000 retirement Oxford do theology, brush Greek, Hebrew, write DPhil thesis neuropathological theological aspects out-of-body near-death experiences. As put it, see dimension leaves wife, Birgit, children Edward, Elizabeth, Robert, previous Joan.