C. Robin Ganellin facts for kids

Charon Robin Ganellin, born on January 25, 1934, is a British chemist. He is known for his work in creating new medicines. He used to be a professor at University College London. His biggest achievement was helping to discover a medicine called cimetidine. This drug helps people who have stomach ulcers. He found this medicine while working at Smith Kline and French. Today, he lives near London.

Growing Up and School

Robin Ganellin was born in London on January 25, 1934. From a young age, he knew he wanted to work in chemistry. At Harrow County School for Boys, he was very good at science and math. He enjoyed biology and nature the most.

His father and uncle were both chemists. This helped him see that chemistry could be a good career. He started studying at Queen Mary College in London. There, he earned his first degree in chemistry.

He continued his studies at Queen Mary College. He researched a special type of chemistry called tropylium chemistry. He learned how to separate a chemical part called the tropylium cation. In 1958, when he was 24, he earned his PhD in organic chemistry.

Discovering New Medicines

In 1958, after finishing his PhD, Robin Ganellin joined Smith Kline and French Laboratories in the UK. This is where he began working on medicinal chemistry. Medicinal chemistry is about finding and making new drugs.

Two years later, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA. He worked there for a year. After MIT, he came back to the UK and continued his work at Smith Kline and French.

In 1966, he led an important research team. They worked with Sir James Black to study how certain chemicals affect the body. This research led to the discovery of Cimetidine. This medicine is also known as Tagamet. It is now made by GlaxoSmith Kline.

Cimetidine quickly became very popular. It was the first drug to earn over one billion dollars in sales each year. The World Health Organization lists it as one of the most important medicines.

Awards and Achievements

Robin Ganellin has written or helped write over 260 scientific papers. He is also listed as an inventor on more than 160 US patents. Patents are like official documents that protect new inventions.

He was the president of the medicinal chemistry section for IUPAC. This is a global organization for chemistry. For ten years, until 2012, he led a group focused on medicinal chemistry and drug development.

He has won many awards for his work. These awards are for his discovery of cimetidine and his other research. He has received honors from many groups, including the Royal Society of Chemistry.

In 1990, he was added to the US National Inventors Hall of Fame. This was for his important work on cimetidine. Today, Robin Ganellin is an Emeritus Professor of Medicinal Chemistry. This means he is mostly retired but still holds an honorary title.