Dr. Morris H. Aprison earned his B.S. in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1945 while also serving in the U.S. Navy. He went on to earn a teaching certificate and an M.S. degree in physics from the University of Wisconsin in 1947 and 1949, respectively. He later returned to the University of Wisconsin to complete his Ph.D., majoring in biochemistry and minoring in physics.
Dr. Aprison joined the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) faculty in 1956 as an assistant professor of biochemistry in the Institute of Psychiatric Research. He was promoted to associate professor in 1960 and full professor in 1964. He became the director of Psychiatric Research in 1978 and earned the title of Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology and Biochemistry in 1978. He retired with from IUSM his emeritus title in 1993.
Dr. Aprison’s research interests spanned a wide spectrum, including nitrogen fixation in legumes, neurochemical correlates of behavior, and amino acids as neurotransmitters. His research is mentioned in over 300 publications.
During his professional career, Dr. Aprison was an editor or editorial board member for 11 journals covering an array of topics related to neuroscience and biochemistry. From 1975 to 1979, he served as the secretary of the International Society for Neurochemistry. He was awarded the Gold Medal Award from the Society of Biological Psychiatry in 1975. Dr. Aprison’s research and accomplishments helped advance the future of medicine, which has benefited generations of doctors, patients, researchers, and scholars across generations.