Connaught Laboratories

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Connaught Laboratories was a Canadian institution dedicated to the research, development, and production of vaccines and other biological products. It played a significant role in the advancement of public health in Canada and globally.

History[edit | edit source]

Connaught Laboratories was established in 1914 as the Antitoxin Laboratory at the University of Toronto. It was founded by Dr. John Gerald FitzGerald, a professor of bacteriology, with the aim of producing diphtheria antitoxin. The laboratory was initially located in a small building on the university campus.

In 1917, the laboratory was renamed Connaught Antitoxin Laboratories and University Farm, in honor of the Duke of Connaught, who was then the Governor General of Canada. The name was later shortened to Connaught Laboratories.

Contributions to Public Health[edit | edit source]

Connaught Laboratories made significant contributions to the field of public health, particularly in the development and production of vaccines. Some of its notable achievements include:

  • The production of diphtheria antitoxin, which helped reduce the incidence of diphtheria in Canada.
  • The development of a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.
  • The production of the polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk.
  • The development of a combined diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccine.

Merger and Legacy[edit | edit source]

In 1972, Connaught Laboratories became a part of the Canada Development Corporation (CDC), a government-owned entity. In 1989, the laboratory was privatized and sold to the French pharmaceutical company Institut Mérieux, which later became part of Sanofi Pasteur.

The legacy of Connaught Laboratories continues through its contributions to vaccine development and public health. Its work laid the foundation for many modern vaccines and helped establish Canada as a leader in the field of immunology.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External Links[edit | edit source]


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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD