Dr. C. De Lucca and his work as a biologist

Dr. Carmelo De Lucca who died on the 6th March, 1971, was born at Msida, Malta, on the 24th November, 1916. He studied at the Lyceum and later at the Royal University of Malta, where he obtained the Bachelorship in Science and qualified as a Pharmaceutical Chemist in 1939. He graduated in Medicine in 1943. Dr. De Lucca was a Member of the British Ornithologists' Union, the British Ornithologists' Club, the British Trust for Ornithology and the Societa` Italiana di Scienze Naturali, a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London and the local representative of the Royal Naval Bird Watching Society. A list of publications by Dr. De Lucca is also presented.peer-reviewe

Clinical Pharmacology in the UK, c.1950-2000: Industry and Regulation

Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.First published by the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, 2008. ©The Trustee of the Wellcome Trust, London, 2008.All volumes are freely available online at: www.history.qmul.ac.uk/research/modbiomed/wellcome_witnesses/Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 25 September 2007. Introduction by Professor Parveen Kumar, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London.Clinical pharmacology in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s was an exciting profession. Many important new drugs were developed and brought to market and a more systematic knowledge of drug effects in humans was needed, as well as ensuring the safety and efficacy of new and existing drugs, especially following the unexpected problems arising from the use of thalidomide. This Witness Seminar followed an earlier meeting on the history of the general development of clinical pharmacology and focuses on the development of clinical pharmacology in pharmaceutical companies and drug regulation. Professor Rod Flower chaired the meeting of clinical pharmacologists and others who shaped the discipline, which discussed the main centres of influence; the attraction to clinical pharmacologists of working in industry; whether the decline in the number of academic clinical pharmacologists was paralleled in drug companies; what drove drug regulation; and the relationships between companies and regulatory authorities. Participants included Dr Jeffrey Aronson, Professor Nigel Baber, Sir Alasdair Breckenridge, Sir Iain Chalmers, Professor Joe Collier, Professor Donald Davies, Dr Peter Fletcher, Dr Arthur Fowle, Professor Sir Charles George, Professor David Grahame-Smith, Professor John Griffin, Dr Andrew Herxheimer, Professor Ray Hill, Dr Peter Lewis, Dr Tim Mant, Professor Denis McDevitt, Professor Michael Orme, Dr Anthony Peck, Professor Brian Prichard, Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Professor John Reid, Professor Philip Routledge, Dr Julian Shelley, Dr Robert Smith, Professor Cameron Swift, Professor Tilli Tansey, Dr Duncan Vere, and the late Professor Owen Wade. Reynolds L A, Tansey E M. (eds) (2008) Clinical pharmacology in the UK, c. 1950–2000: Industry and regulation. Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, vol. 34. London: The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL.The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL is funded by the Wellcome Trust, which is a registered charity, no. 210183

Clinical Pharmacology in the UK, c.1950-2000: Influences and Institutions

Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.First published by the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, 2008.©The Trustee of the Wellcome Trust, London, 2008.All volumes are freely available online at: www.history.qmul.ac.uk/research/modbiomed/wellcome_witnesses/Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 6 February 2007. Introduction by Dr Mark Walport, The Wellcome Trust.The history of clinical pharmacology in the UK over the last half of the twentieth century is largely untold. Many important new drugs were developed and brought to market in the 1950s and 1960s ensuring the need for more systematic knowledge of drug effects in humans and also providing new career opportunities in teaching, research and practice. The 30th anniversary of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 2004 and the 75th anniversary of the British Pharmacological Society in 2006 had prompted reflections from practicing clinical pharmacologists. It was timely, therefore, to bring together clinical pharmacologists and others who have shaped the discipline, to promote historical analysis and debate. Chaired by Professor Rod Flower, the meeting considered such questions as: What was/is clinical pharmacology? Which were the main centres of influence? Who and what were the main drivers? Who became clinical pharmacologists and why? What was the significance of specialized societies, meetings and journals? Participants included Dr Stuart Anderson, Dr Jeffrey Aronson, Professor David Barnett, Dr Linda Beeley, Professor Sir James Black, Professor Morris Brown, Professor Mark Caulfield, Sir Iain Chalmers, Professor Donald Davies, Professor Robin Ferner, Dr Arthur Fowle, Professor Sir Charles George, Professor David Gordon, Professor David Grahame-Smith, Dr Andrew Herxheimer, Dr Kenneth Hunter, Professor Trevor Jones, Professor Desmond Laurence, Professor Denis McDevitt, Professor Walter Nimmo, Professor Michael Orme, Dr Anthony Peck, Professor Laurie Prescott, Professor Brian Prichard, Professor John Reid, Professor James Ritter, Professor Philip Routledge, Professor Tilli Tansey, Professor Geoffrey Tucker, Professor Patrick Vallance, Professor Duncan Vere, the late Professor Owen Wade, Professor David Webb and Professor Frank Woods. Reynolds L A, Tansey E M. (eds) (2008) Clinical pharmacology in the UK, c. 1950–2000: Influences and institutions. Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, vol. 33. London: The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL.The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL is funded by the Wellcome a registered charity, no. 210183

Validation of community pharmacy : confirming the effectiveness of a pharmacist in a community setting

Validation of community pharmacy is a concept we coined to define the process carried out to demonstrate that the services provided by a community pharmacist are needed by the community. One method to undertake such a process was developed. This method involves the use of a series of Validation Tools which are measurement tools with which to monitor the standards of the service provided by a community pharmacist. Five Validation Tools were developed and subsequently the validity and reliability of these tools were tested. The developed Validation Tools were found to be valid and reliable methods which can be confidently used by community pharmacists to confirm the impact of their services on patient care.peer-reviewe

Fostering innovation in a small open economy: The case of the New Zealand biotechnology sector

The New Zealand Biotechnology sector is worthy of study for several reasons. While there is a large and growing international literature on economic aspects of biotechnology innovation these studies concentrate on the United States and Europe. The New Zealand biotechnology sector may be expected to develop along a different trajectory as a consequence of a markedly different set of initial and framework conditions. Government has indicated a strong interest in fostering innovation and aims to concentrate on selected areas where New Zealand may be able to develop a new comparative advantage. One such area is biotechnology, which would build on New Zealand’s existing comparative advantage in the primary sector (dairy, forestry, meat, wool and horticulture). This paper describes the preliminary results of an ongoing study that aims to fill some of the gaps in our knowledge of innovation processes in New Zealand while using the international literature as a benchmark. The paper focuses on the drivers of innovation in the biotechnology sector; the role of networks and other linkages; the role of government and industry, the role of human and venture capital, and data from patenting

European regulatory agenices should employ full time statisticians

No abstract available

The Medicalization of Cannabis

Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.First published by the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, 2010.©The Trustee of the Wellcome Trust, London, 2010. All volumes are freely available online at: www.history.qmul.ac.uk/research/modbiomed/wellcome_witnesses/Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.Annotated and edited transcript of a Witness Seminar held on 24 March 2009. Introduction by Professor Leslie Iversen.Cannabis has been considered as both an illicit drug and a medicine throughout its history. Introduced to the UK as a medicine in the nineteenth century, its medical utility was limited and it was not until tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the principal active components in cannabis, was isolated in 1964 by Raphael Mechoulam and his team in Israel that scientific research on the drug expanded. Further major developments came in the 1980s, when the cannabinoid receptors in the brain were discovered. Scientists, clinicians, policy makers and patients interested in exploring and utilizing cannabis as an orthodox medication attended this seminar. Several were involved with the early elucidation of the structures of the components of the cannabis plant, or with the two MRC-funded trials in the 1990s into the therapeutic effect of cannabis on multiple sclerosis (MS) and postoperative pain. The founding director of GW Pharmaceuticals discussed the problems of growing cannabis plants and standardizing extracts to produce a medicine that could gain regulatory approval. Two MS patients related their experiences of cannabinoid medications and the significance of patient activism and self-medication in renewing research interest in the potential medical benefits of cannabis, against the backdrop of increasing recreational use, was also considered. The meeting was suggested by Professor Virginia Berridge, who chaired the meeting jointly with Professor E. M. Tansey. Contributors include: Professor David Baker, Professor Virginia Berridge Dr Vincenzo Di Marzo, Professor Griffith Edwards, Professor John Galloway, Dr Edward Gill, Dr Geoffrey Guy, Dr Clare Hodges, Dr Anita Holdcroft, Ms Victoria Hutchins, Professor Raphael Mechoulam, Professor Anthony Moffat, Dr William Notcutt, Professor Roger Pertwee, Dr Philip Robson, Dr Ethan Russo, Professor Tilli Tansey, Ms Suzanne Taylor. One appendix gives diagrams of the structures of the major plant cannabinoids and structurally-related synthetic cannabinoids. Crowther S M, Reynolds L A, Tansey E M. (eds) (2010) The Medicalization of Cannabis, Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, vol. 40. London: The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL. ISBN 978 085484 129 5The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL is funded by the Wellcome Trust, which is a registered charity, no. 210183

Health Biotechnology Innovation for Social Sustainability -A Perspective from China

China is not only becoming a significant player in the production of high-tech products, but also an increasingly important contributor of ideas and influence in the global knowledge economy. This paper identifies the promises and the pathologies of the biotech innovation system from the perspective of social sustainability in China, looking at the governance of the system and beyond. Based on The STEPS Centre’s ‘Innovation, Sustainability, Development: A New Manifesto’, a ‘3D’ approach has been adopted, bringing together social, technological and policy dynamics, and focusing on the directions of biotechnological innovation, the distribution of its benefits, costs and risks and the diversity of innovations evolving within it and alongside it

Exploring the baseline knowledge and experience of healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom on Novel Psychoactive Substances

Submitted 28 january 2020. Reviwers' comments received 11 February 2020. Accepted 26 February 2020. Published 2 March 2020.Objective: This survey aimed to explore knowledge and experience on novel psychoactive substances (NPS) of healthcare professionals (HCPs). The study also aimed to assess how HCPs would like to improve their knowledge of NPS. Methods: Seventy paper questionnaires were disseminated in 2017 within continuing education events to pharmacists, nurses and general practitioners (GPs). Additionally, 127 online surveys were completed using the Qualtrics platform by other HCPs and mental health nurses in six United Kingdom (UK) independent mental health hospitals long-stay in-patient rehabilitation services. Two educational sessions involving pharmacists and GPs were also held in late 2017 and mid-2018. Knowledge of NPS by HCPs was evaluated prior to the start of the educational events. Evaluation forms were handed out post-sessions to garner feedback, especially on areas for improvement for future sessions. Statistical analysis of data was undertaken using SPSS (V.25). Results: Most HCPs reported only 'basic' to 'intermediate' NPS knowledge. Substance misuse service staff felt more informed, were more often consulted and had greater confidence regarding NPS compared to hospital and primary care professionals. A negative association was found between the age of the HCP and knowledge of NPS. Most participants expressed a need for regular training and updates as insufficient NPS-related information is currently received. Conclusions: An improvement within the self-reported knowledge of HCPs on NPS is evident in comparison to previous studies. Continued education of HCPs on NPS is fundamental for the provision of improved harm reduction services, which can enhance overall care for NPS service users.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio