Sir John Vane, Director, Research & Development

Operational files from the office of Sir John Vane, Group Research & Development Director (1974-1985). The files comprise some statutory records (Articles of Association), a copy of Sir Henry Wellcome's Will, and various committee minutes, reports, and correspondence.

During Vane's period as Director, Wellcome discovered prostacyclin (a short-lived hormone that dilates blood vessels and prevents platelet aggregation), and produced a number of important drugs including anti-viral agents and muscle relaxants. Material on vaccines for whooping cough and rubella is also present. The files record, from a company executive perspective, the search for new compounds in a competitive commercial context. Considerable executive energy in this period was also given to organizational restructuring, which is recorded in some detail.

1941-1985

25 boxes

Copyright assigned to the Wellcome Trust

Please see main WF collection description (ref. 'WF').