# Bengt Robertson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bengt_Robertson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bengt_Robertson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengt_Robertson > Source revision: 1346127196 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Swedish physician}} {{Infobox scientist | honorific_prefix = | name = Bengt A. Robertson | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Bengt robertson.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1935|09|14|df=y}} | birth_place = [Stockholm](/source/Stockholm), Sweden | death_date = {{death date and age|2008|12|07|1935|09|14|df=y}} | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | siglum = | pronounce = | fields = | workplaces = | patrons = | education = [Karolinska Institute](/source/Karolinska_Institute) | thesis_title = The intrapulmonary arterial pattern in normal infancy and in transposition of the great arteries | thesis_url = https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543991 | thesis_year = 1968 | doctoral_advisor = | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = [Corusurf](/source/Poractant_alfa) | awards = | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | father = | mother = | relatives = | signature = | signature_type = | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Bengt A. Robertson''' was a Swedish physician and perinatal pathologist. Robertson was primarily known for the development of the synthetic [lung surfactant](/source/pulmonary_surfactant) [Corusurf](/source/Poractant_alfa) which provided relief to very small babies suffering from [infant respiratory distress syndrome](/source/infant_respiratory_distress_syndrome) (RDS).{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=Henry L. |last2=Speer |first2=Christian P. |title=Bengt Robertson (1935–2008): A Pioneer and Leader in Surfactant Research |journal=Neonatology |date=2009 |volume=95 |issue=2 |pages=VI–VIII |doi=10.1159/000197019|doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Bohlin |first1=K. |last2=Blennow |first2=M. |last3=Curstedt |first3=Tore |title=Historien om surfaktant - stor upptäckt för de minsta b |journal=Läkartidningen |date=2009 |volume=106 |issue=52 |pages=3492–3495 |url=https://lakartidningen.se/vetenskap/historien-om-surfaktant/ |language=sv|archive-url=https://archive.today/20251127195727/https://lakartidningen.se/vetenskap/historien-om-surfaktant/|archive-date=27 November 2025 }}{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=H.L. |last2=Speer |first2=C.P. |title=Laudatio Bengt Robertson: A Surfactant Pioneer |journal=Neonatology |date=2002 |volume=82 |issue=4 |pages=272–273 |doi=10.1159/000066325|doi-access=free }} From 1974 to 2000, he was the director of the division for experimental perinatal pathology in the department of women and child Health at the Karolinska Institute. In 1996, he was awarded the [King Faisal International Prize in Medicine](/source/King_Faisal_International_Prize) together with [Tetsurō Fujiwara](/source/Tetsur%C5%8D_Fujiwara) for contributions to the understanding of [neonatal medicine](/source/neonatal_medicine).{{cite web | title=Professor Bengt A.Robertson | website=King Faisal Prize | date=10 October 2012 | url=http://kingfaisalprize.org/professor-Bengt-a-Robertson/ | access-date=13 August 2018}}{{Cite web|last=Tait|first=Mr|date=2013-09-09|title=Professor Bengt Robertson|url=https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/obituary/professor-bengt-robertson|access-date=2021-11-17|website=Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh|language=en}} ==Life== Robertson was born and grew up in Stockholm. As a child, he attended the [Södra Latins Gymnasium](/source/S%C3%B6dra_Latin) in the [Södermalm](/source/S%C3%B6dermalm) area of Stockholm, leaving in 1953. Having decided to become a physician, Robertson attended the [Karolinska Institute](/source/Karolinska_Institute), a medical university and graduated [Master of Science in Medicine](/source/Doctor_of_Medicine) (Swedish: Läkarexamen) in 1960. Robertson followed the MD with a [Doctor of Philosophy](/source/Doctor_of_Philosophy) degree and was awarded a doctorate in 1968. His thesis was titled: "The intrapulmonary arterial pattern in normal infancy and in transposition of the great arteries". Robertson was married to Gertie Grossmann, a pediatric surgeon who collaborated with him on surfactant research. Bengt had four children from a previous marriage, consisting of one daughter and three sons. ==Career== From 1974 to 2000, he was director of the department of Experimental Perinatal Pathology at the Karolinska Institute.{{cite journal |last1=Speer |first1=C. P. |title=Prof. Bengt Robertson, Stockholm |journal=Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatologie |date=August 2009 |volume=213 |issue=4 |pages=117 |doi=10.1055/s-0029-1225636|s2cid=70450050 }} In 1976, he was appointed as [visiting professor](/source/visiting_scholar) at the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto). This was followed by two visiting scholar positions to the [University of Perugia](/source/University_of_Perugia) in 1985 and 1987. From 1994 to 1997, Robertson was also director of the department of [pediatric pathology](/source/pediatric_pathology) at [Karolinska University Hospital](/source/Karolinska_University_Hospital). In 2000, Robertson was promoted to an [adjunct professor](/source/adjunct_professor) in Perinatal Pathology at the Karolinska Institute. ===Surfactant research=== In 1959, Mary Avery and Jere Mede conducted a trial at the department of physiology at Harvard University in Boston, that showed that [respiratory distress syndrome](/source/Infant_respiratory_distress_syndrome) (RDS) was due to surfactant deficiency.{{cite journal |last1=Avery |first1=Mary Ellen |title=Surface Properties in Relation to Atelectasis and Hyaline Membrane Disease |journal=Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine |date=1 May 1959 |volume=97 |issue=5_PART_I |pages=517 |doi=10.1001/archpedi.1959.02070010519001}} Two trials followed that used synthetic [Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine](/source/Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine) surfactant. The surfactant treatment was delivered as a mist via a [nebulizer](/source/nebulizer) but the trials showed mixed results. Robillard stated it seemed worthy of further investigation.{{cite journal |last1=Robillard |first1=E |last2=ALARIE |first2=Y |last3=DAGENAIS-PERUSSE |first3=P |last4=BARIL |first4=E |last5=GUILBEAULT |first5=A |title=Microaerosol administration of synthetic beta-gamma-dipalmitoyl-l-alpha-lecithin in the respiratory distress syndrome: a preliminary report. |journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal |date=11 January 1964 |volume=90 |issue=2 |pages=55–7 |pmid=14104151|pmc=1922135 }} The second study by Jacqueline Chu and her colleagues John Clements, Marshall Klaus and Bill Tooley in Singapore,{{cite journal |last1=Chu |first1=J |last2=Clements |first2=JA |last3=Cotton |first3=EK |last4=Klaus |first4=MH |last5=Sweet |first5=AY |last6=Tooley |first6=WH |last7=Bradley |first7=BL |last8=Brandorff |first8=LC |title=Neonatal pulmonary ischemia. I. Clinical and physiological studies. |journal=Pediatrics |date=October 1967 |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=Suppl:709–82 |pmid=6053115}} implied that the underlying cause of RDS was low blood flow instead of a deficiency of surfactant.{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=Henry L |title=The fascinating story of surfactant |journal=Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health |date=April 2017 |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=327–332 |doi=10.1111/jpc.13500}} In the late 1960s, Bengt started to collaborate with English-Swedish [obstetrician](/source/obstetrics) [Goran Enhörning](/source/Goran_Enh%C3%B6rning) (1924-2013) at the Karolinska Institute. Enhörning had been researching RDS in the 1960s and had developed a number of clinical surfactants and therapies to treat RDS.{{cite news |title=Goran Enhorning |url=https://medicine.buffalo.edu/departments/pediatrics/news_and_events.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/briefs/2013/obit_goran_enhorning.detail.html |access-date=7 January 2025 |agency=Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences |publisher=University of Buffalo |date=4 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250107202759/https://medicine.buffalo.edu/departments/pediatrics/news_and_events.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/briefs/2013/obit_goran_enhorning.detail.html |archive-date=7 January 2025 |location=Buffalo}} Together, Bengt and Enhörning conducted two trials to discover the reasons for the failure of nebulised synthetic surfactant. They described that when natural surfactant was installed directly into the [trachea](/source/trachea) of premature rabbits, normal lung expansion was achieved, and the animals survived.{{cite journal |last1=Enhörning |first1=Göran |last2=Robertson |first2=Bengt |title=Lung expansion in the premature rabbit fetus after tracheal deposition of surfactant |journal=Pediatrics |date=1 July 1972 |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=58–66 |doi=10.1542/peds.50.1.58|pmid=4483194 |s2cid=21760100 }}{{cite journal |last1=Enhörning |first1=G |last2=Grossman |first2=G |last3=Robertson |first3=B |title=Tracheal deposition of surfactant before the first breath |journal=American Review of Respiratory Disease |date=June 1973 |volume=107 |issue=6 |pages=921–927}} The discovery that the treatment effect was dependent on the surfactant preparation containing natural surfactant proteins and that the surfactant was administered as a [bolus](/source/Bolus_(medicine)) dose directly into the trachea; i.e., to be effective the treatment needed to be nebulised directly into the lungs of preterm infants, which resulted in the enhanced expansion of the lungs by air. During the same period, they were joined by Gertie Grossmann, a pediatric surgeon based at the institute. The group worked together during the early 1970s until Enhörning left for an appointment at the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto) in 1971. Bengt and Grossmann continuing their collaboration into the 1980s. The group used a [primate](/source/primate) model to test the effects of surfactant on the lung function and morphology that had been developed in Toronto. In the first trial in 1978, a surfactant obtained from the lungs of rabbits was tested on a group of 12 [rhesus](/source/rhesus_macaque) monkeys with 6 monkeys in the control group.{{cite journal |last1=Enhorning |first1=G. |last2=Hill |first2=D. |last3=Sherwood |first3=G. |last4=Cutz |first4=E. |last5=Robertson |first5=B. |last6=Bryan |first6=C. |title=Improved ventilation of prematurely delivered primates following tracheal deposition of surfactant |journal=American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date=November 1978 |volume=132 |issue=5 |pages=529–536 |doi=10.1016/0002-9378(78)90748-2}} The trial proved that a natural surfactant "held promise" as a treatment for RDS. ===Curosurf=== In the 1980's, Robertson and [Tore Curstedt](/source/Tore_Curstedt), a clinical chemist created a new surfactant [Curosurf](/source/Poractant_alfa) that was based on porcine lungs that had gone through an additional step of [liquid gel chromatography](/source/Chromatography) leaving only polar lipids and surfactant proteins [SP-B](/source/Surfactant_protein_B) and [SP-C](/source/Surfactant_protein_C).{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=H L |title=Surfactants: past, present and future |journal=Journal of Perinatology |date=May 2008 |volume=28 |issue=S1 |pages=S47–S56 |doi=10.1038/jp.2008.50|pmc=7104445}} In 1983, Robertson was asked by a colleague [Rolf Zetterström](/source/Rolf_Zetterstr%C3%B6m) to help a little girl with RDS. The young child went from suffering [cyanosis](/source/cyanosis) to turning a rosy colour, indicating successful treatment. In November 1984, Robertson was visited by [Henry Halliday](/source/Henry_Halliday). Together they conducted a pre-clinical trial both [In vitro](/source/In_vitro) and in rabbit fetus's ventilated with a [plethysmograph](/source/plethysmograph), comparing Hallidays artificial surfactant Turfsurf with Curosurf which was found to be superior.{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=Henry L |title=The fascinating story of surfactant: |journal=Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health |date=April 2017 |volume=53 |issue=4 |pages=327–332 |doi=10.1111/jpc.13500|pmid=28271629 |s2cid=30967601 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=H |last2=Robertson |first2=B |last3=Nilsson |first3=R |last4=Rigaut |first4=JP |last5=Grossmann |first5=G |title=Automated image analysis of alveolar expansion patterns in immature newborn rabbits treated with natural or artificial surfactant. |journal=British Journal of Experimental Pathology |date=October 1987 |volume=68 |issue=5 |pages=727–32 |pmid=3689674|pmc=2013175 }} Halliday witnessed the highly efficacious Corusurf at work when pre-term twins were treated, who were going blue in the face due to a lack of oxygen and almost immediately after treatment, turned a healthy pink.{{cite journal |last1=Noack |first1=G. |last2=Berggren |first2=P. |last3=Curstedt |first3=T. |last4=Grossmann |first4=G. |last5=Herin |first5=P. |last6=Mortensson |first6=W. |last7=Nilsson |first7=R. |last8=Robertson |first8=B. |title=Severe Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treated with the Isolated Phospholipid Fraction of Natural Surfactant |journal=Acta Paediatrica |date=September 1987 |volume=76 |issue=5 |pages=697–705 |doi=10.1111/j.1651-2227.1987.tb10552.x|pmid=3661171}} ===Testing Curosurf=== In the autumn of 1984, Bengt became the leader of a group of neonatologist and surfactant researchers, known as "The Collaborative European Multicenter Study Group", colloquially known as "the Curosurf family", who were formed to test Curosurf in the first large international multicentre clinical trial. In 1988, the study group reported that Curosurf reduced pulmonary air leaks and improved lung function in neonates with RDS.{{cite journal |title=Surfactant replacement therapy for severe neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: an international randomized clinical trial. Collaborative European Multicenter Study Group. |journal=Pediatrics |date=November 1988 |volume=82 |issue=5 |pages=683–91 |pmid=2903480}} Over the next decade, Robertson coordinated the study groups to produce a series of trials to test Curosurf. The first two defined treatment regimens,{{cite journal |last1=Speer |first1=CP |last2=Robertson |first2=B |last3=Curstedt |first3=T |last4=Halliday |first4=HL |last5=Compagnone |first5=D |last6=Gefeller |first6=O |last7=Harms |first7=K |last8=Herting |first8=E |last9=McClure |first9=G |last10=Reid |first10=M |title=Randomized European multicenter trial of surfactant replacement therapy for severe neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: single versus multiple doses of Curosurf. |journal=Pediatrics |date=January 1992 |volume=89 |issue=1 |pages=13–20 |pmid=1727997}}{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=H L |last2=Tarnow-Mordi |first2=W O |last3=Corcoran |first3=J D |last4=Patterson |first4=C C |title=Multicentre randomised trial comparing high and low dose surfactant regimens for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (the Curosurf 4 trial). |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood |date=1 September 1993 |volume=69 |issue=3 Spec No |pages=276–280 |doi=10.1136/adc.69.3_spec_no.276|pmc=1029491 }} This was followed by trials to define when optimal treatment should be undertaken.{{cite journal |last1=Egberts |first1=J |last2=de Winter |first2=JP |last3=Sedin |first3=G |last4=de Kleine |first4=MJ |last5=Broberger |first5=U |last6=van Bel |first6=F |last7=Curstedt |first7=T |last8=Robertson |first8=B |title=Comparison of prophylaxis and rescue treatment with Curosurf in neonates less than 30 weeks' gestation: a randomized trial. |journal=Pediatrics |date=December 1993 |volume=92 |issue=6 |pages=768–74 |pmid=8233735}}{{cite journal |last1=Walti |first1=H |last2=Paris‐Llado |first2=J |last3=Breart |first3=G |last4=Couchard |first4=M |title=Porcine surfactant replacement therapy in newborns of 25‐31 weeks'gestation: a randomized, multicentre trial of prophylaxis versus rescue with multiple low doses |journal=Acta Paediatrica |date=August 1995 |volume=84 |issue=8 |pages=913–921 |doi=10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13792.x}}{{cite journal |last1=Bevilacqua |first1=Giulio |last2=Parmigiani |first2=Stefano |last3=Robertson |first3=Bengt |title=Prophylaxis of respiratory distress syndrome by treatment with modified porcine surfactant at birth: a multicentre prospective randomized trial |journal=jpme |date=1996 |volume=24 |issue=6 |pages=609–620 |doi=10.1515/jpme.1996.24.6.609}} In the following years further trials were held to test Curosurf in combination with [continuous positive airway pressure](/source/continuous_positive_airway_pressure) treatment.{{cite journal |last1=Verder |first1=Henrik |last2=Robertson |first2=Bengt |last3=Greisen |first3=Gorm |last4=Ebbesen |first4=Finn |last5=Albertsen |first5=Per |last6=Lundstrom |first6=Kaare |last7=Jacobsen |first7=Thorkild |title=Surfactant Therapy and Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Newborns with Respiratory Distress Syndrome |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=20 October 1994 |volume=331 |issue=16 |pages=1051–1055 |doi=10.1056/NEJM199410203311603}}{{cite journal |last1=Verder |first1=Henrik |last2=Albertsen |first2=Per |last3=Ebbesen |first3=Finn |last4=Greisen |first4=Gorm |last5=Robertson |first5=Bengt |last6=Bertelsen |first6=Aksel |last7=Agertoft |first7=Lone |last8=Djernes |first8=Birgitte |last9=Nathan |first9=Erling |last10=Reinholdt |first10=Jes |title=Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Early Surfactant Therapy for Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns of Less Than 30 Weeks' Gestation |journal=Pediatrics |date=1 February 1999 |volume=103 |issue=2 |pages=e24–e24 |doi=10.1542/peds.103.2.e24}} ==Honours== Robertson received many honours throughout his life. In 1996, he was first recognised when he was awarded the [King Faisal International Prize](/source/King_Faisal_Prize). Two years later in 1998, Robertson along with [Tore Curstedt](/source/Tore_Curstedt) was awarded the [Hilda and Alfred Eriksson](/source/Hilda_and_Alfred_Eriksson) Prize by the [Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences](/source/Royal_Swedish_Academy_of_Sciences).{{cite journal |last1=Halliday |first1=Henry L. |last2=Speer |first2=Christian P. |title=Historical Perspectives |journal=NeoReviews |date=1 September 2010 |volume=11 |issue=9 |pages=e471–e473 |doi=10.1542/neo.11-9-e471}} In 2002, he was awarded the [Erich Saling Maternité Prize](/source/Erich_Saling_Maternit%C3%A9_Prize) given by the [European Association of Perinatal Medicine](/source/European_Association_of_Perinatal_Medicine).{{cite web |title=Erich Saling Maternity Prize |url=https://europerinatal.eu/maternite_prize.php |website=EAPM Association - About Us |access-date=10 September 2023 |location=Milan, Italy |page=en}} This was followed in 2004 with the awarding of the [Lars Werkö Prize](/source/Lars_Werk%C3%B6_Prize) by the [Swedish Heart Lung Foundation](/source/Swedish_Heart_Lung_Foundation) along with Tore Curstedt.{{cite journal |last1=Speer |first1=Christian P. |last2=Halliday |first2=Henry L. |title=Tore Curstedt - The Basic Science Creator of Porcine Surfactant |journal=Neonatology |date=2014 |volume=106 |issue=3 |pages=242–244 |doi=10.1159/000365128|doi-access=free |pmid=25300948 }} ===Societies=== Robertson was also awarded a number of honorary positions throughout his life: * In 1987 Honorary Membership of the Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine * In 1996, Fellowship of the [Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh](/source/Royal_College_of_Physicians_of_Edinburgh) ==Publications== * {{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=Bengt |title=The intrapulmonary arterial pattern in normal infancy and in transposition of the great arteries The intrapulmonary arterial pattern in normal infancy and in transposition of the great arteries |date=1968 |publisher=Almqvist & Wiksell bokhandel |location=Stockholm|oclc=15600}} * {{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=Bengt |title=Microangiography of the lung in infancy and childhood |date=1973 |publisher=Proprius; [Seelig] |location=Stockholm : [Solna] |isbn=9789171181633|oclc=841508}} * {{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=Bengt |last2=van Golde |first2=Lambert M. G. |last3=Batenburg |first3=J. J. |title=Pulmonary surfactant: from molecular biology to clinical practice |date=1992 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780444894755}} * {{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=Bengt |last2=Taeusch |first2=H. William |title=Surfactant therapy for lung disease |date=1995 |publisher=Dekker |location=New York |isbn=9780824795023}} ==References== ===Citation=== {{Reflist}} ===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |editor1-last=Robertson |editor1-first=Bengt |editor2-last=Taeusch |editor2-first=H. William |title=Surfactant therapy for lung disease |date=19 July 1995 |publisher=Dekker |location=New York |isbn=978-0824795023|series=Lung biology in health and disease|volume=84}} {{Pioneers of surfactant research}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Bengt}} Category:Biography articles needing translation from German Wikipedia Category:1935 births Category:2008 deaths Category:20th-century Swedish medical doctors Category:Karolinska Institute alumni --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bengt Robertson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengt_Robertson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengt_Robertson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.