Beecham Group Ltd
- Date:
- 1955-1975
- Reference:
- PP/EBC/F.44-F.174
- Part of:
- Chain, Professor Sir Ernst Boris
- Archives and manuscripts
Collection contents
About this work
Description
The material is presented more or less chronologically, with the exception of correspondence with Lazell and his successor, Sir Ronald Edwards, which has been kept separate and now appears at F.169-F.174. For material relating to conferences and symposia organised by the Beecham Group and attended by Chain, see J.77-J.80, J.99-J.111, J.112
Publication/Creation
1955-1975
Physical description
131 files
Biographical note
Chain's association with the Beecham Group began at the instigation of Sir Charles Dodds who introduced him to H.G. Lazell (Managing Director, later Chairman of the Beecham Group) in 1955. The result was a very fruitful collaboration culminating in 1959 with the isolation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (the 'nucleus' of the penicillin molecule) which made possible the development of a whole series of new synthetic penicillins. Chain continued to act as a consultant to Beechams until his death in 1979 and the company also sponsored various research projects and studentships at Imperial College. The following papers trace the development of his collaboration with Beechams and the expansions of their research effort after 1959. Unfortunately some files have been lost and there are gaps for whole years (e.g. 1956, 1957) or parts of years (e.g. November 1960-June 1961).