Leonard Goodwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonard Goodwin
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Goodwin at a conference circa 1955
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| Born | 11 July 1915 |
| Died | 25 November 2008 (aged 93) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University College London College of the Pharmaceutical Society |
| Known for | refinement of the chemotherapeutic index |
| Awards | Manson Medal (1992) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | protozoology |
| Institutions | Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research Wellcome Laboratories of Tropical Medicine Nuffield Laboratories for Comparative Medicine |
Leonard George Goodwin was a British scientist who studied tiny living creatures called protozoa. He was born in London on July 11, 1915. Leonard became interested in nature and science during holidays with his grandfather, who was a gamekeeper, and his uncle, who was a pharmacist.
He went to William Ellis School and then studied botany (plants) and zoology (animals) at University College London. After that, he studied pharmacy, which is about making and using medicines. He graduated in 1935 and continued his studies in medicine.
Helping Soldiers During World War II
When World War II began, Leonard Goodwin started working at the Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research. This was a very important job because he was helping to find ways to treat tropical diseases. These diseases were making many soldiers sick.
One big problem was a disease called leishmaniasis. It was affecting many soldiers in Sicily. Leonard's job was to find the best medicine to treat it. Scientists used something called the 'chemotherapeutic index' to figure out the right amount of medicine to give. This index compared the smallest dose that would cure the disease to the dose that would harm the patient.
Hamsters to the Rescue
Leonard tried to test medicines on European hamsters, but it didn't work because these hamsters were already strong against the disease. So, he asked a scientist in Jerusalem to send him some Syrian hamsters. These hamsters were perfect for testing the medicines.
His research showed that a medicine called Pentostam was the safest and most effective. It was given to soldiers within a year! Leonard later said that many of the Syrian hamsters kept as pets today came from the hamsters he bred for his research. He is even given credit for helping to make hamsters popular pets.
Later Research and Achievements
Leonard Goodwin continued his important work at the Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research until 1958. After that, he became the director of the Wellcome Laboratories of Tropical Medicine. In 1964, he became the head of the Nuffield Laboratories for Comparative Medicine, where he worked until 1980.
During these years, he studied many other health topics. He researched anticoagulants, which are medicines that help prevent blood clots. He also studied trypanosomiasis, which is also known as sleeping sickness, and arteriosclerosis, a condition where arteries become stiff.
In 1976, Leonard Goodwin was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. In 1977, he received another special award, the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG), for his great work in studying tropical diseases. He passed away on November 25, 2008.
