The British Pharmacological Society is the primary UK

learned society A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an discipline (academia), academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and s ...

for pharmacologists concerned with research into drugs and the way they work. Members work in academia, industry, regulatory agencies and the health services, and many are medically qualified. The Society covers the whole spectrum of pharmacology, including laboratory, clinical, and toxicological aspects. Clinical pharmacology is the medical speciality dedicated to promoting safe and effective use of medicines for patient benefit. Clinical pharmacologists work as consultants in the

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and many hold prominent positions in UK universities.

History

The Society was founded in 1931, in Oxford, by a group of about 20 pharmacologists. They were brought together on the initiative of Professor James Andrew Gunn, by a letter signed by Gunn, H.H. Dale, and W.E. Dixon and sent to the heads of departments for teaching pharmacology and of institutions for pharmacological research in Great Britain, with proposals for the formation of a pharmacological club. There were favorable replies to this letter, and most of the recipients met in Wadham College on the evening of 3 July 1931, the day before the meeting of the Physiological Society. Gunn presided over the meeting. It was agreed that a Society should be founded to meet at least once a year for the reading of papers on pharmacological subjects and the discussion of questions of teaching and publications and to promote friendly relations between pharmacologists. The first female member of the society was Mary Pickford (1935), and other early, eminent women include

Marthe Vogt Marthe Louise Vogt (September 8, 1903 – September 9, 2003) was a German scientist recognized as one of the leading neuroscientists of the twentieth century. She is mainly remembered for her important contributions to the understanding of t ...

and

Edith Bülbring Edith Bülbring, FRS (27 December 1903 – 5 July 1990) was a British scientist in the field of smooth muscle physiology, one of the first women accepted to the Royal Society as a fellow ( FRS). She was professor of pharmacology at the Unive ...

Publications

The British Pharmacological Society publishes several works which promote pharmacology: *''

British Journal of Pharmacology The ''British Journal of Pharmacology'' is a biweekly peer-reviewed medical journal covering all aspects of experimental pharmacology. It is published for the British Pharmacological Society by Wiley-Blackwell. It was established in 1946 as the ' ...

'' is published by Wiley *''

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology The ''British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology'' is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the British Pharmacological Society. It covers all aspects of drug action in humans and was established in 1974. , ...

'' is published by Wiley *''Pharmacology Research & Perspectives'' is published by ASPET, British Pharmacological Society and Wiley. *''pA2'' is the e-journal of the British Pharmacological Society. *''Pharmacology Matters'' is the magazine of the British Pharmacological Society.

Presidents

Secretary and Treasurer * 1931 - M. H. MacKeith * 1934 -

Joshua Harold Burn Joshua Harold Burn FRS (6 March 1892 – 13 July 1981) was an English pharmacologist and professor of pharmacology at Oxford University. Burn worked on the internal control of the body by the autonomic nervous system, carrying out seminal wor ...

* 1945 - Frank R. Winton Secretary * 1947 - G. Brownlee * 1952 - D. R. Wood * 1955 - M. Weatherall * 1956 - D. R. Wood * 1957 - W.L. M. Perry * 1961 - J. D. P. Graham General Secretary * 1968 - J. P. Quilliam * 1971 -

John R. Vane Sir John Robert Vane (29 March 1927 – 19 November 2004) was a British pharmacologist who was instrumental in the understanding of how aspirin produces pain-relief and anti-inflammatory effects and his work led to new treatments for heart and b ...

* 1974 - J. F. Mitchell * 1977 - G. P. Lewis * 1980 - A. M. Barrett * 1983 - T. Birmingham * 1986 - G. N. Woodruff * 1989 - A. R. Green * 1992 - J. Maclagan * 1995 - N.G. Bowery * 1998 - T. P. Blackburn President * 1999 - N.G. Bowery * 2001 - Rod. J. Flower * 2004 - J. C. Buckingham * 2006 - G. Henderson * 2008 - Jeff K. Aronson * 2010 - Raymond G. Hill * 2012 - Phil A. Routledge * 2014 - Humphrey P. Rang * 2016 - David Webb * 2018 - Steve Hill

Eminent pharmacologists

The society elects eminent, deceased contributors to the subject of pharmacology, whether or not they were members, to the Pharmacology Hall of Fame: * James Black *

Bill Bowman William, Willie, Will, Bill, or Billy Bowman may refer to: Sportspeople * Bill Bowman (baseball) (1867–1944), American baseball player for the Chicago Colts * William Bowman (fencer) (1881–1947), American Olympic fencer * Bill Bowman (America ...

*Henry Hallett Dale *Derrick Dunlop *John Gaddum *Hans Kosterlitz *Heinz Otto Schild *John Vane *

Members of the society awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include Black, Dale and Vane.

Fellows of the society

Fellowships (FBPhS) of the society are awarded to members who have made significant contributions to both the study of pharmacology and the Society. A full list of Fellows is available here. Honorary Fellowships (HonFBPhS) are awarded to member or non-members for distinguished and sustained leadership role in Pharmacology. Fellows and Honorary Fellows use the post-nominal FBPhS. Notable honorary fellows include: *Y S Bakhle *Michael Berridge *Tom Blackburn (pharmacologist), Thomas Blackburn *Colin Blakemore *Susan Brain *Geoffrey Burnstock *Judy MacArthur Clark *John H. Coote *David Colquhoun *Sally Davies (doctor), Sally Davies * Garret A. FitzGerald *Roderick Flower *Raymond Hill *Hilary Little *Ian McGrath, former editor-in-chief of the ''British Journal of Pharmacology'' *Sir Salvador Moncada *Sir Michael Rawlins *Nancy Rothwell, Dame Nancy Rothwell

References

External links

The British Pharmacological Society
*
The British Journal of Pharmacology
' *
The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
' *
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
' {{Authority control Health in the London Borough of Islington Learned societies of the United Kingdom Medical associations based in the United Kingdom 1931 establishments in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Islington Pharmacological societies Scientific organizations established in 1931