Robert Lowry Turner
Encyclopedia
Professor Robert Lowry Turner (1923–1990) was a British scientist known for his pioneering work in cancer research
and chemotherapy
. Turner came to Bradford
from Belfast
before being made Consultant Pathologist at Bradford Royal Infirmary in 1956.
He led a team in Bradford developing key parts of chemotherapy
treatment, now a routine step for millions of people diagnosed with cancer.
Chemotherapy was made known to the rest of the medical world in 1959 after Professor Turner, along with surgeon George Whyte-Watson
, brought it into Bradford Royal Infirmary
. Professor Turner's work began on a project which looked at the effect mustard gas had on childhood Leukaemia, and developed with the help of other experts and through money raised in the city. At the time, the drugs were highly toxic, and he recognised the need for scientific input to optimise drug treatment and develop new strategies. To develop these ideas it was necessary to establish a local research base which was provided by the University of Bradford
, this provided Professor Turner with laboratory space, an office and two members of staff to help run it.
Robert Lowry Turner died in 1990. He is commemorated along with surgeon George Whyte-Watson with a plaque which can be found in Bradford Cathedral
.
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
. Turner came to Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
before being made Consultant Pathologist at Bradford Royal Infirmary in 1956.
He led a team in Bradford developing key parts of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatment, now a routine step for millions of people diagnosed with cancer.
Chemotherapy was made known to the rest of the medical world in 1959 after Professor Turner, along with surgeon George Whyte-Watson
George Whyte-Watson
George Whyte-Watson, FRCS was a surgeon, and was born on the 9 August 1908 in Edinburgh.He graduated in medicine from Edinburgh in 1931. After an appointment as house surgeon at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, he went to Bradford in 1932...
, brought it into Bradford Royal Infirmary
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Bradford Royal infirmary is a large teaching hospital in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and is operated by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS trust. The infirmary is affiliated with Leeds School of Medicine....
. Professor Turner's work began on a project which looked at the effect mustard gas had on childhood Leukaemia, and developed with the help of other experts and through money raised in the city. At the time, the drugs were highly toxic, and he recognised the need for scientific input to optimise drug treatment and develop new strategies. To develop these ideas it was necessary to establish a local research base which was provided by the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
, this provided Professor Turner with laboratory space, an office and two members of staff to help run it.
Robert Lowry Turner died in 1990. He is commemorated along with surgeon George Whyte-Watson with a plaque which can be found in Bradford Cathedral
Bradford Cathedral
Bradford Cathedral , full name Cathedral Church of St Peter, is situated in the heart of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England, on a site used for Christian worship since the 8th century when missionaries based in Dewsbury evangelised the region...
.
External links
- The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics – http://www.brad.ac.uk/ict/media/ICT-InstituteofCancerTherapeutics/Documents/Breast-Cancer-Chemotherapy-Development.pdf