The Lister Institute for Preventative Medicine
Encyclopedia
The Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, informally known as the Lister Institute was established as a research institute in 1891, with bacteriologist Marc Armand Ruffer
as its first director, using a grant from the Guinness family. It had premises in Sudbury, Chelsea and Elstree, England. It was the first medical research charity in the United Kingdom
. It was named after Dr Joseph Lister
.
In the 1970s the Institute ran into financial difficulties. It had continual annual deficits, plus the need for major expenditure to modernise the Elstree
production facilities. Professor Albert Neuberger
became involved as chair of governing body in 1973-74 at which point he became aware of the difficult financial problems . The endowment funds were insufficient to cover their requirements and it failed to get Government support. Neuberger came to the conclusion that within five to six years it would be bankrupt and he persuaded colleagues to dissolve the Institute. He persuaded Westminster
Council to change the use of buildings. The Chelsea
laboratories were closed in 1975 and Elstree in 1978. The assets were sold, the most valuable being the Chelsea site.
This raised enough money to endow annually a number of Senior Research Fellowships which is the Institute's legacy.
Thus from that point it became a science funding body
and it now awards the Lister Institute Research Prize Fellowships to researchers working on infectious disease in the United Kingdom.
Marc Armand Ruffer
Sir Marc Armand Ruffer was an Anglo-German experimental pathologist and bacteriologist; he is considered a pioneer of modern paleopathology....
as its first director, using a grant from the Guinness family. It had premises in Sudbury, Chelsea and Elstree, England. It was the first medical research charity in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was named after Dr Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister OM, FRS, PC , known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, who promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary...
.
History
Until the 1970s it maintained laboratories and conducted research on infectious disease and vaccines. Its was funded by manufacturing and selling vaccines.In the 1970s the Institute ran into financial difficulties. It had continual annual deficits, plus the need for major expenditure to modernise the Elstree
Elstree
Elstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
production facilities. Professor Albert Neuberger
Albert Neuberger
Albert Neuberger CBE FRS FRCP was Professor of Chemical Pathology, St Mary's Hospital, University of London, 1955–1973, and later Emeritus Professor.-Education in Germany:...
became involved as chair of governing body in 1973-74 at which point he became aware of the difficult financial problems . The endowment funds were insufficient to cover their requirements and it failed to get Government support. Neuberger came to the conclusion that within five to six years it would be bankrupt and he persuaded colleagues to dissolve the Institute. He persuaded Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
Council to change the use of buildings. The Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
laboratories were closed in 1975 and Elstree in 1978. The assets were sold, the most valuable being the Chelsea site.
This raised enough money to endow annually a number of Senior Research Fellowships which is the Institute's legacy.
Thus from that point it became a science funding body
Funding body
A funding body is an organisation that provides research funding in the form of research grants or scholarships. These include:* Arts councils* Research councils for the funding of science....
and it now awards the Lister Institute Research Prize Fellowships to researchers working on infectious disease in the United Kingdom.