The difficult years of Leon Abgarovich Orbeli: 140th anniversary of his birth

Abstract

L.A. Orbeli was one of the outstanding Russian physiologists, who at different times worked in the Department of Physiology of the Imperial Institute of Experimental Medicine under I.P. Pavlov and in St. Petersburg Marine Hospital, headed the Department of Evolutionary Physiology of the All-Union Institute of Experimental Medicine and Biostation in Koltushi (later on the Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Pathology of Higher Nervous Activity of USSR Academy of Medical Sciences). During the Stalinist repressions he actively defended his fellow scientists, petitioning for their release. How many people were saved by L.A. Orbeli during the Stalinist terror, no one knows today. Abgar Leonovich (15.05.193920.12.2022), grandson of Leon Abgarovich, public figure and scientist, estimates that he saved at least a hundred people. Among those saved was the future Nobel Prize winner for physiology or medicine, Konrad Lorenz. Thanks to Leon Abragovichs intercession, E.M. Kreps trial for counterrevolutionary activities ended with 5 years in a labour camp, and not the highest punishment for the scientist. Thanks to him, Kreps was able to return to his scientific activities. Such activity could not remain unpunished and after the Pavlov session Orbeli was dismissed from all posts, but in 1956 he became Director of the I.M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology. I.M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology, which he headed until his death in 1958. L.A. Orbeli was one of the first native humanist, for whom humanist activity was not less important than scientific. The article is based on report of senior researcher of FGBNU IEM E.T. Zakharova Orbeli and his time, made in Academy of Sciences (SPb, Universitetskaya Embankment, 5) 07.07.2022 at the workshop dedicated to memory of academician L.A. Orbeli, timed to 140th anniversary since his birth.