Albert Lasker
Clinical Medical Research Award

Acceptance Remarks by Jay W. Black

I was lucky to be able to visit Philadelphia during the bicentennial celebrations and among my trophies I have Carl Becker's study of the Declaration of Independence. His analysis of John Locke's works and their influence on Jefferson tells how Locke said he had made all his discoveries by "steadily intending his mind in a given direction"—a remarkable description of the exciting and satisfying process of problem-solving in science.

In my case, "steadily intending my mind" led, for example, to propranolol—a drug, something useful, applied science, if you like. And yet I can testify that this practical solution to the problem of controlling the work and power of the diseased heart was manufactured from the raw material of so-called pure science. There can be no doubt that without the non-target oriented studies of investigators like Dr. Ahlquist, my work which has led to the beta-receptor antagonists and then, directly stemming from that, to cimetidine for controlling histamine receptors in peptic ulcer disease, would not have been possible. Drug research is, of course, small science. But experience teaches us that a relatively small investment of resources and a big investment of imagination, steadily applied, can yield real benefits to sick people everywhere.

I hope that the selection of propanolol for this award today will be seen as a mere sample of what adventures in pharmacology and medicinal chemistry could do today provided all our energy is not short-circuited by obsession with safety and avoidance of regret. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the privileges of scientific freedom and generous colleagues which I enjoyed at I.C.I., the honor of having been selected to share this award with Dr. Ahlquist, and my great pleasure at being here to accept it today.