Wellcome Research Laboratories
Wellcome Research Laboratories
Wellcome Research Laboratories was a pioneering pharmaceutical research institution and manufacturing firm in the United Kingdom, forming a crucial part of the Wellcome Trust's history, one of the world's largest biomedical research charities. Founded by Henry Wellcome, an American pharmacist who moved to the UK, the laboratories were instrumental in the development of various medical and pharmaceutical innovations.
History[edit | edit source]
The origins of Wellcome Research Laboratories trace back to the late 19th century when Henry Wellcome and his colleague Silas Burroughs formed a pharmaceutical company, Burroughs Wellcome & Co., in 1880. The company was among the first to introduce medicine in tablet form under the brand name "Tabloid" in the late 1880s. In the early 20th century, the company established the Wellcome Research Laboratories as part of its commitment to scientific research and development in the field of medicine.
Innovations and Contributions[edit | edit source]
Wellcome Research Laboratories made significant contributions to medical science, including the development of vaccines, antitoxins, and other pharmaceuticals. One of their notable achievements was the development of the first diphtheria antitoxin in the UK, which played a crucial role in combating the disease. They were also involved in the discovery and development of various other drugs, including the antimalarial drug quinine.
During the 20th century, the laboratories expanded their research into tropical diseases, reflecting Henry Wellcome's interest in medicine and healthcare in the British Empire's tropical colonies. This led to significant advancements in the treatment and understanding of diseases such as sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
The legacy of Wellcome Research Laboratories is closely tied to the Wellcome Trust, which was established under Henry Wellcome's will after his death in 1936. The Trust became one of the world's leading funders of biomedical research, using the wealth generated by Wellcome's pharmaceutical ventures. In the late 20th century, the Wellcome Trust sold the Wellcome pharmaceutical business to Glaxo, forming GlaxoWellcome, which later became part of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a global pharmaceutical company.
Today, the Wellcome Trust continues to support scientific research with the aim of improving human and animal health. The legacy of Wellcome Research Laboratories lives on through the Trust's work, as well as through the continued impact of its pharmaceutical innovations on global health.
See Also[edit | edit source]
 | This pharmacology-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
