The makers of modern biomedicine: Testimonies and legacy.

The development, management and influence of biomedicine are important concerns in modern Western, and increasingly in global, societies. The major premise of this application is that to understand modern biomedicine it is essential to know something of its history, as reflected in the lives and careers of its key figures. This is an ambitious programme to capture the testimonies of those who have made significant contributions to the legacy of modern biomedicine. Biomedicine is interpreted broa dly, from laboratory sciences, through every kind of medical specialty; whilst key figures may be practitioners, researchers, policy-makers, or funders, etc. including individuals and groups perhaps known only to a select few, but whose work and influence has been of considerable significance. The methodology is that of oral history using both group Witness Seminars and individual interviews. Five major themes are developed: clinical genetics, neuroscience, global health and infectious disease, medical technology, and the ethics of research and practice, which resonate with the current strategic objectives and challenges of the Wellcome Trust. The resultant data will be published in a variety of different formats, and provide sources for deeper and broader explorations of the cultural, social and strategic value of the biomedical sciences.