Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine

Historical Sketch: The Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine, Incorporated (GMITP) was founded in 1921 and was named after William C. Gorgas. Gorgas was a U.S. Surgeon General and was known throughout the world as the conqueror of the mosquito and the malaria and yellow fever it transmits. His pioneer efforts in halting an epidemic of yellow fever enabled the United States to complete the Panama Canal. Its mission was to create a health education program to train researchers in tropical health, disease, and medicine and to establish a research institute focusing on tropical and Preventive medicine in Panama. The Its primary organ, the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, opened its doors in Panama in January, 1929. The major program objectives at GML were concerned with ecological studies, encephalitides, epidemic malaria, host-parasite relationships, and prevention and control of host-parasite relationships in Latin America and other tropical regions. However, by the 1980s Congressional support for GMI/GML was waning. By 1989, GMI/GML found itself in dire need of funding to continue its operations or it must close the Panama facility. Furthermore, Panama was in political upheaval and military personnel advised GMITP President Leon Jacobs to reassess not only the funding issue, but also the unstable environment. The lab closed in 1990.

From the description of Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine records, 1899-1992. (National Library of Medicine). WorldCat record id: 14319119

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