In the news
Fundraising for the new Beatson Institute for
Cancer Research
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It all started with a research grant of £24, 753 from the British Empire Cancer
Campaign to finance Dr Paul's study of cell differentiation. The first newspaper
article describes this period.
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1. Article in the Motherwell Times 26th April 1968
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The founding of the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Garscube, Glasgow, was the result of extensive fundraising. and efforts continued for some time to ensure that the Institute attracted sufficient ongoing funding thereafter. Some of the published articles around this fundraising and the changes effected by this fundraising can be viewed at the links below.
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2. Article in Evening Times, Thursday July 2nd 1987 'City gets £2.8M to help beat cancer'
4. Article in Milngavie and Bearsden Herald, October 31st 1986 '£400,000 aid'
5. Article in the Times September 4th 1974 'Lack of funds blamed for cancer research delay'
7. Article in The Guardian September 4th 1974 'Cost of fighting illness taxes national purse'
8. Article in The Mercury and Eastwood Advertiser March 27th 1981 '£140,000 for research over 25 years'
9. Article in East Kilbride News September 21st 1978 'Generous BSR handout £1000 to charity twice'
10. Article in Milngavie and Bearsden Herald, Sept 6th 1985
11. Article in Evening Times November 16th 1978
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Keeping donors and other interested parties informed
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As the new Beatson Institute for Cancer Research became established, it was important to keep donors and other interested parties informed about progress and research being carried out there. Ongoing funding was not always a certainty so this publicity was essential at that time. Here are a few small excerpts from the early Institute journals.
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12. Beatson Journal Excerpt 1972
13. Beatson Journal Excerpt 1976
14. Beatson Journal Excerpt 1978
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The new Institute attracts high calibre scientists
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The new institute was able to attract very high calibre scientists as discussed in article 17 below.
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15. San Francisco chronicle 'Scots research unit brings back the brains from abroad'
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It was almost certainly sited in Garscube because, as a post-graduate, Dr Paul and his family had enjoyed playing tennis and having barbecues with friends in Garscube. When the Institute was first opened, grazing sheep were a fixture outside, as you can see in the next photograph. This was in 1976 and the Beatson Institute has since been rebuilt. It was renamed in 2023 and taken under the wing of Cancer Research UK.
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Recognising the importance of molecular biology
Dr Paul's ability to recognise areas of biomedical research at the forefront of scientific progress was to be a hallmark of his whole career (9). He frequently stressed the importance of molecular biology. He was among the first few scientists throughout the world to realise that culture of human and mammalian cells in the laboratory was to become a key tool in the development of research into the biology of cells. The following are some articles with this emphasis (see also 'Obituaries' on this page below).
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15. Article in the Scotsman 'Some misgivings on soporific drugs'
17. Article in Glasgow Herald Sept 4th 1974
18. Article in Glasgow Herald 5th March 1975
Retirement and beyond
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Dr Paul eventually retired from his post as Director of the Beatson Institute
in 1987. Various scientists of world renown gave talks at a symposium in '
his honour. This list of scientists giving talks is shown on the invite cover.
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18. John Paul Symposium invite cover
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Professor Sir Alastair Currie gave an address to the attendees at the symposium. The full address can be seen at the link below, alongside a tribute in the British Society for Cell Biology by John Pitts
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20. Article in British Society for Cell Biology December 1987
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He was also honoured by Glasgow University when he was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate of Science in 1989. The proposal for this award can be viewed at the link below.
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20. Proposal for award of Honorary Doctor of Science from Glasgow University 1989
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Unfortunately, his later years were plagued with ill health and he eventually died in 1994. Below
are some obituaries following his death.
21. Obituary published in the BMJ 10th December 1994 volume 309 pp 1577
This section looks at some key articles covering Professor Paul's career at the Beatson and beyond.
