Alfredo Lanari, a clinical research style

Area of Science:

• Medical History
• Research Institutionalization

Background:

• The institutionalization of clinical research in Argentina culminated in 1957 with the establishment of the Institute of Medical Investigations (Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas) at the Universidad de Buenos Aires.
• This development was significantly driven by Alfredo Lanari, who directed the institute for nearly two decades.
• Lanari's leadership and vision were pivotal in shaping the institute and its research endeavors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how Alfredo Lanari fostered a distinct style of clinical research.
• To examine Lanari's creation of a significant position within the local medical field.
• To understand how these factors contributed to the successful institutionalization of medical research.

Main Methods:

• The study employed a qualitative approach, combining oral and documentary sources.
• Oral sources included interviews with physicians from the Institute of Medical Investigations, members of the journal Medicina, and the Argentine Society of Clinical Investigation (Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica).
• Documentary sources comprised academic files and scientific articles.

Main Results:

• Alfredo Lanari successfully established a unique style of clinical research.
• He secured a prominent position within the Argentine medical landscape.
• His efforts led to the significant institutional realization of medical research at the Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Conclusions:

• The creation of the Institute of Medical Investigations was a result of both Lanari's personal initiative and broader contextual transformations in medicine.
• Lanari's influence extended beyond the institute, impacting the wider medical discipline.
• This case highlights the interplay between individual leadership and the evolution of scientific institutions.