The Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development was established through the generous support of Dr. Leon Lachman (PhD ’56) and named in his honor.
Dr. Lachman was raised in New York where he developed an interest in pharmaceuticals while delivering medications for local pharmacies. He earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and master’s degree in industrial pharmacy at Columbia University, then his PhD in physical and physical-organic chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison under Professor Takeru Higuchi.
Dr. Lachman worked in pharmaceutical research and development at the CIBA Pharmaceutical Company; Endo Laboratories, a division of DuPont; and United Laboratories in Manila, Philippines. He established Lachman Consultant Services in 1979, providing technical expertise to the pharmaceutical and allied health industries to implement “good manufacturing practice” requirements and respond to Food and Drug Administration audits. Under his leadership, the organization grew into one of the most influential consulting firms in the applied pharmaceutical sciences field.
Dr. Lachman has published over 70 manuscripts, authored and edited numerous textbooks, and received 11 patents for pharmaceutical testing and dosage form design. He was distinguished with various honors, including the 1979 Research Achievement Award in Pharmaceutics from the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a 2003 Citation of Merit from the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy.
Dr. Lachman continues to serve in retirement as a chancellor’s associate at the University of California San Diego and a member of the president’s council for Scripps Health San Diego.