John Wilkinson (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Dr John Wilkinson is an English scientist who program led the first European degree course (Bachelor of Science with Honours) for herbal medicine at Middlesex University in the UK in 1994.
, Surrey
in 1961. By the time he was 12 years old he had his own private laboratory and still does to this day. He went on to study Chemistry – by – thesis at Sussex University where he undertook a three year research program, remarkably as an undergraduate, on the chemistry of bioluminescence
under the supervision of Professor Frank McCapra.
Dr Wilkinson then worked for Wellcome Research Laboratories and Beecham (pharmaceutical company)
in the area of drug discovery (1985–1987). He was one of the first graduate scientists to be given 20% of his work time to develop his own research ideas.
Dr Wilkinson was awarded an SERC
Instant award which was then later funded by ICI
and obtained his PhD
from Imperial College London
(1987–1990) working with Professor William Motherwell.
Dr Wilkinson was then awarded the prestigious SERC-NATO post-doctoral fellowship to work with Nobel Prize winning Professor George Olah in Los Angeles, California, USA (1991–1992), where he worked on, among other things, natural products chemistry, organic chemistry and Buckminsterfullerenes.
Following his post-doctoral work in the USA, Dr Wilkinson returned to the UK and became a visiting Research Fellow in Phytochemistry
at the University of Exeter
in 1993, with Professor Stan Roberts and was also a visiting lecturer at The School of Phytotherapy
in East Sussex with the eminent medical herbalist
and scientist
, Hein Zeylstra (1928–2001).
. He was also appointed as a senior lecturer in Phytochemistry
and Pharmacognosy
, where he remained until 2004.
During his tenure at Middlesex University
, Dr Wilkinson founded the Herbal Research Laboratories in 1996. He became Head of the Phytochemistry
Discovery Group and led a team of 10 post-doctoral scientists, research assistants and other staff members. He was also a guest lecturer at Oxford University Medical School where he taught medical undergraduates the scientific aspects of herbal medicines.
The natural product
research and regulatory consultancy company, Herbal Sciences International Limited was set up by Dr Wilkinson in 2001. Despite leaving Middlesex University
in 2004, he continues to run this company.
Herbal Sciences International Limited obtained the first novel food
approval in the European Union
for a nutraceutical
based on a safe history of use rather than conventional toxicological studies. This approval effectively broke the trade barriers and opened up the European Union
to new fruits, vegetables and nutraceuticals from developing countries. The company continues to work in the area of regulatory approval for health claims on food labels
, novel food
s, herbal medicines and food supplements in the EU, the USA and elsewhere.
Dr Wilkinson has published a number of articles during his academic career and continues to present at conferences and trade shows related to natural products. He has also published material for inclusion in a number of books.
. He also teaches and conducts research into meditation
.
Dr Wilkinson is a musician and composer, plays the alto, tenor and soprano saxophones and is also an electronica artist. He specialises in ballads, jazz improvisation, electronica, funk, and regularly plays at venues in the UK and abroad. He is also a recording artist and has composed and recorded songs in genres such as smooth jazz, sacred world music, chillout and other downtempo electronica formats.
Early life
Dr John Wilkinson was born in CroydonCroydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1961. By the time he was 12 years old he had his own private laboratory and still does to this day. He went on to study Chemistry – by – thesis at Sussex University where he undertook a three year research program, remarkably as an undergraduate, on the chemistry of bioluminescence
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in...
under the supervision of Professor Frank McCapra.
Dr Wilkinson then worked for Wellcome Research Laboratories and Beecham (pharmaceutical company)
Beecham (pharmaceutical company)
Beecham was a British pharmaceutical company. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Beecham, after having merged with SmithKline Beckman, merged with GlaxoWellcome to become GlaxoSmithKline .-History:...
in the area of drug discovery (1985–1987). He was one of the first graduate scientists to be given 20% of his work time to develop his own research ideas.
Dr Wilkinson was awarded an SERC
SERC
-Organisations:*State Electricity Regulatory Commissions in India*South Eastern Regional College in Northern Ireland-Science:* Science and Engineering Research Council, a UK agency that oversaw publicly funded scientific research until 1994....
Instant award which was then later funded by ICI
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
and obtained his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
(1987–1990) working with Professor William Motherwell.
Dr Wilkinson was then awarded the prestigious SERC-NATO post-doctoral fellowship to work with Nobel Prize winning Professor George Olah in Los Angeles, California, USA (1991–1992), where he worked on, among other things, natural products chemistry, organic chemistry and Buckminsterfullerenes.
Following his post-doctoral work in the USA, Dr Wilkinson returned to the UK and became a visiting Research Fellow in Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry is in the strict sense of the word the study of phytochemicals. These are chemicals derived from plants. In a narrower sense the terms are often used to describe the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants. Many of these are known to provide protection against...
at the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
in 1993, with Professor Stan Roberts and was also a visiting lecturer at The School of Phytotherapy
Phytotherapy
Phytotherapy is the study of the use of extracts from natural origin as medicines or health-promoting agents.Traditional phytotherapy is often used as synonym for herbalism and regarded as "alternative medicine" by much of Western medicine, although effects of many substances found in plants have...
in East Sussex with the eminent medical herbalist
Herbalist
An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
and scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
, Hein Zeylstra (1928–2001).
Herbal Medicine and Middlesex University
In 1994, Dr Wilkinson programme led the first herbal medicine degree course in Europe, from its beginnings in 1994 at Middlesex UniversityMiddlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
. He was also appointed as a senior lecturer in Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry is in the strict sense of the word the study of phytochemicals. These are chemicals derived from plants. In a narrower sense the terms are often used to describe the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants. Many of these are known to provide protection against...
and Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well...
, where he remained until 2004.
During his tenure at Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
, Dr Wilkinson founded the Herbal Research Laboratories in 1996. He became Head of the Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry is in the strict sense of the word the study of phytochemicals. These are chemicals derived from plants. In a narrower sense the terms are often used to describe the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants. Many of these are known to provide protection against...
Discovery Group and led a team of 10 post-doctoral scientists, research assistants and other staff members. He was also a guest lecturer at Oxford University Medical School where he taught medical undergraduates the scientific aspects of herbal medicines.
The natural product
Natural product
A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism - found in nature that usually has a pharmacological or biological activity for use in pharmaceutical drug discovery and drug design...
research and regulatory consultancy company, Herbal Sciences International Limited was set up by Dr Wilkinson in 2001. Despite leaving Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
in 2004, he continues to run this company.
Herbal Sciences International Limited obtained the first novel food
Novel food
Novel food is defined as a type of food that does not have a significant history of consumption or is produced by a method that has not previously been used for food.-European Union:...
approval in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
for a nutraceutical
Nutraceutical
Nutraceutical, a portmanteau of the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”, is a food or food product that reportedly provides health and medical benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Health Canada defines the term as "a product isolated or purified from foods that is...
based on a safe history of use rather than conventional toxicological studies. This approval effectively broke the trade barriers and opened up the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
to new fruits, vegetables and nutraceuticals from developing countries. The company continues to work in the area of regulatory approval for health claims on food labels
Health claims on food labels
Health claims on food labels are claims by manufacturers of food products that their food will reduce the risk of developing a disease or condition...
, novel food
Novel food
Novel food is defined as a type of food that does not have a significant history of consumption or is produced by a method that has not previously been used for food.-European Union:...
s, herbal medicines and food supplements in the EU, the USA and elsewhere.
Other Achievements
Dr Wilkinson is a recognized leading authority on herbal medicine and related matters. He is regularly approached by TV, radio and newspapers for interviews and opinions concerning these types of food and medicinal based products.Dr Wilkinson has published a number of articles during his academic career and continues to present at conferences and trade shows related to natural products. He has also published material for inclusion in a number of books.
Personal life
Dr Wilkinson has been practising meditation since 1987, particularly Theravadan and Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
. He also teaches and conducts research into meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
.
Dr Wilkinson is a musician and composer, plays the alto, tenor and soprano saxophones and is also an electronica artist. He specialises in ballads, jazz improvisation, electronica, funk, and regularly plays at venues in the UK and abroad. He is also a recording artist and has composed and recorded songs in genres such as smooth jazz, sacred world music, chillout and other downtempo electronica formats.