Hope of progress.

This is a biography of the scientist and Nobel Prize Laureate Dr Peter Medawar. The title Hope of Progress comes from his acclaimed speech about the importance of science. The story of his life and work is told by his colleagues and by his wife (Dame Medawar). Much of the narration is in his own words. Amongst the colleagues who speak are David Hamilton, Leslie Brent, Avrion Mitchison, David Newth, Ruth Hunt, Elizabeth Simpson and Eugene Lance. Background to the narration is given by film of Medawar, the places he worked and of his team at work in their laboratories. Peter Medawar studied at Oxford University, where he also met his wife. He began his lifelong research into skin grafting and transplant surgery after witnessing the suffering of a pilot who had terrible burns. His team found that the body's rejection of skin grafts from other people was much like an immune response. Immunologists rejected this idea, but his team soldiered on. Taking inspiration from Dr Hugh Donald's work with twin cattle, Medawar's team attempted skin grafts on sibling mice. Their work advanced the understanding of the body's response to transplant surgery enormously. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work (though he felt it should have been shared with his colleagues Rupert Everett Billingham and Leslie Brent). He was an extremely busy man, especially after winning the Nobel Prize. He combined his ongoing research with lecturing and working with numerous influential bodies. He became the director of the National Institute for Medical Research in 1962. At a time when he was busier than ever, Medawar suffered a stroke (whilst delivering a reading at Exeter Cathedral). He fought his way back to health but was to suffer several more attacks. His left side was weakened and he became physically quite reliant on his wife. Despite these setbacks he remained as fascinated by and involved in his work and life as ever. He wrote numerous books on a variety of topics. He died in 1987. Footage includes: Oxford University, UCL, Glasgow Royal Infirmiry, National Institute for Medical Research and Exeter Cathedral. Mice with grafts, in cages, in ice. Twin cattle. Diagrams of skin grafts in humans, cattle and mice. 2WW airplanes on fire. Burns victim being treated in hospital (circa 1950s). Medawar accepting the Nobel Prize. Medawar throughout his life.