P000003 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J and Annette Alafaci updated 2026-02-26 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000003b.htm person Albert Adrien AO FAA AACR2 19 November 1907 29 December 1989 Place of Birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Place of Death Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Medical chemist Pharmacist Adrien Albert was Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University from 1949 to 1972. Prior to this, Albert was Acting Head of Pharmacy (1938) and lecturer in Organic Chemistry (1939 -1947) at the University of Sydney. During World War II the supply of pharmaceuticals from abroad dwindled so Adrien Albert, in conjunction with the Australian Army Medical Directorship, set up the production of these essential drugs in Australia. He was awarded a Commonwealth Research Scholarship to help fund this work. Almost immediately after the war ended, Albert moved to England to take up the position of Director of Research at the Wellcome Foundation in London. Two years later, Sir Howard Florey lured Adrien Albert back to Australia to work at the newly created John Curtin School of Medical Research.

Soon after completing secondary school, Adrian Albert took up a four year post as apprentice pharmacist with the company Hallam. He quickly realized that his interests lay in pharmaceutical research, not retail pharmacy, and that he would need more formal qualifications. Once his apprenticeship had ended, Albert enrolled in science at the University of Sydney, then worked for two years in a dye firm to fund further studies in England. Even though he experienced several bouts of ill health during his stay in England, Albert completed a PhD on the physical properties of drug actions of antibacterial agents. This work was the forerunner for contemporary drug design.

Albert returned to Australia in 1938, was appointed Acting Head of Pharmacy, then lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Sydney. Over the next 35 years Albert further enhanced his reputation as a first rate chemist and pharmacologist. He locally produced essential drugs for Australia during World War II, worked for the prestigious Wellome Trust Foundation in London and was appointed the inaugural Head of the Medicinal Chemistry Division at the John Curtain School of Medical Research. For the first 9 years the Division was housed at the Wellcome Trust in London, then in July 1956 after the John Curtin School of Medical Research building was finally completed, the Division moved to Canberra. Adrien Albert retired from this post in 1972 but continued to work for the Australian National University (the Research School of Chemistry and the Department of Chemistry) until shortly before his death in 1989.

21 November 1928 21 November 1928 Career position - Registered as a pharmacist after a four year apprenticeship with Hallam c. 1932 c. 1932 Education - Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)), University of Sydney 1932 1932 Career position - President, University of Sydney Pharmacy Student's Association 1932 1932 Award - University Medal, University of Sydney 1932 1934 Career position - Dyer (?) at Hendersons of Rosebery 1934 1934 Life event - Left for England 1937 1937 Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Med), University of London 1938 1938 Career position - Acting Head of the Pharmacy Department, University of Sydney 1939 1947 Career position - Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, University of Sydney 1947 1947 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of London 1947 1948 Career position - Research Fellow, Wellcome Foundation in London 1949 1972 Career position - Professor of Medical Chemistry at John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra 1958 Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA) 1964 1964 Career position - Archibald Liversidge Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales 26 January 1989 26 January 1989 Award - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - In recognition of services to medical chemistry, particularly in the fields of teaching and research Archibald Liversidge Medal and Lecture, Royal Society of New South Wales (1931 - )

Awarded the Medal 1964

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Adrien Albert was Acting Head of Pharmacy (1938) and lecturer in Organic Chemistry (1939 -1947) at the University of Sydney.

 John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University (1948 - )

Adrien Albert was Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, 1949 - 1972.

 Australian Academy of Science (1954 - )

Fellow 1958 - 1989

 RACI - Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (c. 2016 - )

The Division presented the Adrien Albert Award c.2016 -

 Adrien Albert Award, RACI - Division of Medicinal and Agricultural Chemistry (1983 - )

The RACI - Division of Medicinal and Agricultural Chemistry inaugurated the Award in 1983

 RACI - Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology Division, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (c. 2016 - )

Patron [of predecessor bodies?]

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Albert, Adrien (19071119-19891229)

Trove

 'Albert, Adrien', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Albert, Adrien Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource: The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Australian Academy of Science The Academy's Fellows [including profiles and other relevant links] Canberra Australian Academy of Science 2019 Journal Article: Adrien Albert 1907-1989 Brown, D. J. Adrien Albert 1907-1989 1990 Historical Records of Australian Science 8 2 63-75 Resource Section: Albert, Adrien - Ms 177 Albert, Adrien - Ms 177 Australian Academy of Science 1994 Listing of Adolph Basser Library holdings Journal Article: Adrien Albert (1907 - 1989) Johnston, Graham A. R. Adrien Albert (1907 - 1989) 1990 Trends in pharmacological sciences 11 4 142 Book Section: Albert, Adrien (1907-1989), medical chemist Brown, D. J. Albert, Adrien (1907-1989), medical chemist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2007 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K Diane Langmore 8-10 Adrien Albert - Records Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Adrien Albert - Records MS 177 1923 - 1990 Correspondence with R.R. McNicoll 1923-57; 3 original compositions for piano c1927; 31 laboratory notebooks 1945-81; bound notebook of lectures presented at Stony Brook, New York 1977-78; 8 videotapes of seminars on selective toxicity presented by Albert at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, November 1982; handwritten and typewritten notes "Comparative heterocyclic chemistry" (not completed before Albert's death); papers compiled, 1986-89, for Ian Rae and Tom Spurling for their account of the history of medical chemistry in Australia [1.11 m, MS 177]. 1.11 m Audio, Video Adrien Albert Adrien Albert All rights reserved.

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