It is with great sadness that the family of Professor Derek George Smyth announce his passing on 28th October 2024 at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield. 

Derek led a full and meaningful life.  He was a great scientist who continued researching into his nineties. He helped determine the structure of an enzyme (Ribonuclease) for the first time whilst at Rockfeller University.  At the National Institute of Medical Research he designed and prepared two novel analogues of oxytocin.  He was the first to isolate the C-fragment of Lipotropin (beta-endorphin) and demonstrate its opiate activity. It is over a hundred times more powerful than morphine. In the last few years he also demonstrated that Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) is endogenous in thyroid and has an inhibitory function.  He presented evidence of a 'dual mechanism' governing the regulation of peptide hormones and neurotransmitters.

Derek was also a loving father and he had many passionate hobbies such as the piano, cycling, tennis, radio repairs and cars, to name a few. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Smyth and his daughters Sarah Shore and Fiona Moore, as well as five grandchildren Sophie, Matilda, Rose, Charlotte and Ralph. 

A service will be held on Tuesday 26th November at 11am at Hendon Crematorium.  Instead of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the British Heart Foundation