About R&D

Commitment to Innovation

Based in 22 sites in 11 countries, GSK invested $6.4 billion in R&D in 2006 and employs over 15,000 scientists -- dedicated to bringing new medicines to the world. GSK screen about 65 million compounds every year in our search for new medicines.

The creation of medicines in today's rapidly changing scientific environment requires innovation. We are changing the way we conduct drug discovery and development to take greatest advantage of the advances made in understanding the causes of disease.

Our seven research units, called Centres of Excellence for Drug Discovery (CEDDs), encourage scientists to pursue potential treatments.  The CEDDs are focused on the following areas: Cardiovascular and urogenital diseases, Metabolic and viral diseases, Microbial, musculoskeletal and proliferative diseases, Neurological and gastrointestinal diseases, Psychiatric diseases, Respiratory and inflammatory diseases, Biopharmaceuticals.

We at GSK are dedicated to delivering innovative medicines and consumer healthcare products to help millions of people around the world live longer, healthier and happier lives.

Nobel Prize & Queen's Awards

In 1988, the Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded to Dr. George Hitchings and Dr. Gertrude Elion, of Wellcome and Sir James Black, who had worked at the Wellcome Foundation and Smith Kline & French Laboratories, for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment.

In 1982, Sir John Vane of Wellcome Research Laboratories was awarded the Nobel Prize, with two other scientists, for their discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related biologically active substances.

In 1936, Sir Henry Dale of Wellcome was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his work in the chemical transmission of nerve impulses.