IMR Past Directors

HAMILTON WRIGHT, M.D. 
FIRST DIRECTOR 1900–1903.

He was sent by the London School of Tropical Medicine to set up a Pathological Institute in Kuala Lumpur. He came to Malaya in 1900.

His contributions were:

He planned and saw to the construction of the first building of the Institute for Medical Research in 1901. His studies on beriberi and malaria resulted in the publication of the first two volumes of the Institute's Study Series :

• The malaria fever of British Malaya (1901)
• An enquiry into etiology and pathology of beriberi (1902)

Recognition

• A bronze plaque located in the first IMR building commemorated Sir Frank Swettenham as the Founder and Dr Hamilton Wright as the Organiser and the First Director of IMR. 

CHARLES WILBERFORCE DANIELS, M.D., F.R.C.P.
SECOND DIRECTOR 1903-1905

He came to Kuala Lumpur to become the Director of the Institute for Medical Research in 1903.

His contributions were:

• He applied a biological approach to tropical disease problems.
• He reported on the breeding grounds of culicidae in Malaya.
• He initiated studies on Malayan natural water and methods of purification.
• He reported on the Selangor outbreak of rinderpest (1903-1904).

He wrote the following IMR Studies:

• The diseases of British Malaya
• Notes on the culicidae of Malaya

HENRY FRASER, M.D., M.R.C.P.
THIRD DIRECTOR 1906–1916

He arrived in Kuala Lumpur to assume the Directorship of the Institute in 1906.

His contributions were:

• He proved beriberi to be a nutritional deficiency disease. He was assisted by A. Stanton, W.G. Brandon and Fletcher and they showed that white rice caused beriberi but cured Indian rice did not.

AMBROSE THOMAS STANTON K.C.G., M.D., B.Sc., F.R.C.P.
FOURTH DIRECTOR 1916–1926

He arrived in Malaya in 1907. His contributions were:

• He conducted studies with Fraser to show the cause of beriberi. He was involved in the Durian Tipus field trial.
• He worked on culicidae.
• He found the cause of melioidosis.

WILLIAM FLETCHER, M.D., F.R.C.P.
FIFTH DIRECTOR 1926–1927

He was a Pathologist at the IMR since 1909. His contributions were:

• He assisted in the Durian Tipus field trial.
• He dispelled fears then that some malaria cases were quinine resistant.
• He re–established confidence in the use of quinine and cinchona alkaloids in treating malaria.
• He worked on the therapy of dysentery, tropical typhus, leptospirosis and tsutsugamushi.

Recognition:

• A bronze plaque located in the Biotechnology Division, IMR commemorates his pioneer work on tropical typhus.

ALLEN NEAVE KINGSBURY, M.D., B.S., B.Sc., M.R.C.P. L.R.C.P., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H.
SIXTH DIRECTOR 1927–1941

He was a Pathologist at the IMR since 1924. His contributions were:

• He introduced Pasteur treatment and preparation of rabies vaccine locally in 1924. He started The Lymph Station for Vaccine Production in 1929.
• He initiated the opening of the Ipoh laboratory branch of the IMR in 1931.

K. SATO
SEVENTH DIRECTOR 1943–1945

He became the Director when the Japanese army took possession of IMR, 1942.

O. KIMURA
EIGHTH DIRECTOR 1943–1945

O. Kimura took over from K. Sato.

During the occupation the IMR was known as Nettai Igaku Kenkyujo (Tropical Medicine Research Institute).

RAYMOND LEWTHWAITE O.B.E., M.B., B.M., B.C.H., M,R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
NINTH DIRECTOR 1946–1949

He was a Pathologist at the IMR since 1928. He was appointed Director just before the Japanese occupation but had to leave Malaya in 1941.

His contributions were:

• He helped to contribute towards a major portion of the fundamental knowledge to scrub typhus while he was away in Australia .
• He was responsible for bringing British and American workers to continue research in scrub typhus.
• He was closely associated with the U.S. Army Medical Research Team and they worked towards showing the curative value of Chloramphenicol for scrub typhus. 

JOHN WILLIAM FIELD, C.M.G., M.D., Ch.B.
TENTH DIRECTOR 1949–1955

He was a Malaria Research Officer at the IMR from 1931. His contributions were:

• He developed The Rapid Romanowsky Aqueous Stain for the thick film diagnosis of malaria ( Field Stain ) in 1941.
• He was responsible for building a new block of laboratories in 1953. He published the IMR Studies No. 25, A Jubliee Volume.
• He co–authored with A.A Sandosham and L.F. Yap for the publication of: – Microscopical diagnosis of human malaria, Part 1, and with P.G Shute for the publication of: – Microscopical diagnosis of human malaria, Part 2.

Recognition:

• He was awarded the Chalmer's Medal for an outstanding contribution towards research in malaria in 1941.
• A bronze plaque located at the Biotechnology Division, IMR is placed in recognition of his work on parasitology and chemotherapy of malaria. 

THOMAS WILSON, C.B.E., M.D., D.P.H., D.T.M. & H.
ELEVENTH DIRECTOR 1956–1959

He was a Senior Malaria Research Officer at the IMR since 1949. He served in WHO Committees on malaria and filariasis.

His contributions were:

• He contributed towards research for the control of malaria and filariasis.
• He worked together with Edeson to show two forms of Malayan filarial worm that infected man.

ARTHUR THOMAS HAPPLE MARSDEN, M.D., B.S.
TWELVE DIRECTOR 1959–1960

• He was a Health Officer at the IMR since 1949. 
• He was a Pathologist at the Ipoh branch in 1947. 
• He became a Senior Pathologist in 1957. 

JAMES ANANDAN CHELLIAH, M.D., Ch.B.
THIRTEENTH DIRECTOR 1960–1961

• He was a Medical Officer at the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur in 1930.
• He subsequently joined the IMR at the Lymph Station in 1933. He became a Senior Pathologist at the Ipoh branch in 1949.
• He was appointed the Director of IMR in 1960 and retired less than a year later.

JOHN BRIGHT DUGUID, M.D., Ch.B.
FOURTEENTH DIRECTOR 1961–1964

He came to Malaya under the Technical Scheme, Colombo in 1960. After assuming the post, he subsequently declined the Directorship because of his interest in histopathology, 1964.

His contributions were:

• He was a leading authority in histopathology and he trained the local pathologists.

ARTHUR ANANTHARAJ SANDOSHAM, L.M.S., Ph.D, M.D. 
FIFTEENTH DIRECTOR 1964–1965

• He was a Senior Malaria and Filariasis Medical Research Officer at the IMR since 1962.
• He was the first principal of the SEAMEO–TROPMED D.A.P. & E. course which was first held in 1970.

His contributions were:

• He was the author of the Manual: – Malariology with special reference to Malaya – a sequel of malaria in Malaya

Recognition:

• Several parasites were named after him in recognition of the fact that he was a leading parasitologist, one of which is Plasmodium sandoshami , a malaria parasite from the flying lemur.

PROFESOR UNGKU DATO’ OMAR AHMAD D.K., J.S.M., A.M., M.B.B.S. (Malaya) Ph.D. (London), D. Path (England), M.C.Path.(London), M.I.Biol.( London), F.C.A.P. (U.S.A.)
SIXTEENTH DIRECTOR 1965–1969

He joined the IMR soon after graduating with M.B.B.S. degree in 1957.

His contributions were:

• He was acknowledged for his excellent services as Director of the Institute towards research in rural health and education problems.
• His valuable services rendered included the declaring the IMR as Malaysia 's National
• Centre for Tropical Medicine in 1967.
• He initiated the School for training of Medical and Health Laboratory Technology. He was initiated the standardisation of laboratory work.
• He started a post graduate programme in IMR.
• He helped strengthen the Institute's association with the national and international organisations.

Recognition:

• A bronze plaque commemorates the setting up of the School of Medical Laboratory Technology .
• The Ungku Omar Hall or Auditorium is in named in memory of his services as Director. 

DATUK ABU BAKAR IBRAHIM, P.S.D., J.S.M., M.B.B.S.
SEVENTEENTH DIRECTOR 1969–1971

• He was a Medical Officer since 1953.
• He was the Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital , Kuala Lumpur in 1960.
• He was a Hospital Administrator and later became the Assistant Director of Medical
• Services (Training Division) at the Ministry of Health in 1963.  

DR. RANJEET BHAGWAN SINGH K.M.N., J.M.N., M.B.B.S., D.T.M.N., Ph.D., M.E.PATH., M.I.Biol., F.R.C. Path.
EIGHTEENTH DIRECTOR 1972–1974

He was a Medical Officer at the IMR since 1951. He then became the Senior Bacteriologist in 1960. He became the Deputy Director in 1971.

His contributions were:

• He discovered a new antibiotic 'antinomin'.
• He established The Division of Bacteriology as the WHO Reference Centre on salmonellosis.
• He was a philanthropist who contributed generously towards medical science and education.
• He bequeathed his entire estate to the Ranjeet Bhagwan Singh Medical Research Endowment.
• He was a Consultant and participated in several expert working groups: WHO, SEAMEO, SIRIM, in the field of research management, tropical diseases and biological products. 

GEORGE FRANCIS DE WITT J.S.M., S.M.P, K.M.N., B.Sc.(Hons.), Ph.D., F.R.I.C., F.M.I.C., F.M.S.A., A.M.
NINETEENTH DIRECTOR 1975–1984

• He was a Biochemist at the IMR since 1957. He became the Senior Biochemist in 1962.
• He was the Institute's Deputy Director in 1971.

His contributions were:

• He identified national and regional priorities and guided departmental efforts towards diseases orientated programmes.
• He established the Division of Radiochemistry, the Snake Farm and the Biomedical Museum.
• He helped in strengthening the Institute by collaborating with national and international organisations.

DATUK ( DR) LIM TEONG WAH D.S.P.N., J.S.M., M.B.B.S. (Mal), Dip. Bact. (Manchester), F.R.C.Path. (UK), A.M. (Mal), F.R.C.P.A.
TWENTIETH DIRECTOR 1984–1987

• He was a Medical Officer at the IMR since 1958.
• He became a Bacteriologist at the IMR in 1960.
• He was a Senior Virus Research Officer in 1965.
• He was the Deputy Director in 1975.

His contributions were:

• He worked on the various aspects of microbiology and parasitology.
• He reported on the presence of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Korean haemorrhagic fever) in Malaysia for the first time.
• He Initiated, coordinated and directed large scale field research projects on dengue, haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, malaria, filariasis and angiostrongylosis utilising several research grants.
• He was a Consultant and he participated in expert working groups of WHO, SEAMEO, PORIM, and MPKSN in research management, tropical and viral diseases and blological products. He was also a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on biological standardisation.

DATO’ (DR) M. JEGATHESAN D.P.M.P., J.S.M.., K.M.N., P.J.K., M.B.B.S., (S’pore), D.T.M.N. (B’kok), D.C.P. (London, D.Path. (England), F.R.C.Path., F.C.A.P., F.R.C.P.A., A.M. (Malaysia)
TWENTY FIRST DIRECTOR 1988–1993