MR John Paul, the director of the Beatson Institute for Cancer
Research in Glasgow from 1966 until 1987, died suddenly on Monday. He
was 72.
Born in Wishaw, he graduated in medicine from Glasgow in 1944 and,
after two years' service as a ship's surgeon in the merchant marine,
embarked on a career in medical research.
After gaining his PhD and working for two years in Edinburgh and New
York, he joined the biochemistry department of Glasgow University as
director of its tissue culture laboratory.
His pioneering work there had a far-reaching influence on almost every
avenue of medical and biological research, with researchers coming from
around the world to learn new techniques for use in the fields of cancer
research, haematology, human genetics, and embryo research.
Mr Paul later moved to the Royal Beatson Memorial Hospital to head its
cancer research laboratories. This gave him opportunities not previously
available to develop his ideas.
The department expanded rapidly under his leadership and he later
founded the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, which established an
international reputation under his guidance.
Mr Paul was at the forefront of scientific innovation for more than 30
years, until his retirement in 1987. At the height of his career, he was
one of the world's thousand most cited contemporary scientists.
He was admired by his colleagues for his breadth of knowledge, not
simply in medicine and biology but in the physical sciences.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
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