Milestones in Microbiology

On Friday, October 11, the American Society for Microbiology designated the Saranac Laboratory as a Milestones in Microbiology Site at an official ceremony at the the Saranac Laboratory Museum.

The Milestones in Microbiology program serves to foster interest in the nation’s microbiological heritage and to remind citizens, educators and visitors of the importance of microbiology. Officials from the American Society for Microbiology attended the award ceremony, including Dr. Robin Patel, President, and Dr. Jim Poupard, Member of the ASM Milestones in Microbiology Committee. Honored guests included New York State Senator Betty Little and a representatives from the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau founded the Saranac Laboratory in 1894 as the first facility in the United States devoted to tuberculosis (TB) research. For seven decades, studies conducted in the building and at the affiliated Trudeau Research and Clinical Laboratory at the Trudeau Sanatorium (1924) led to fundamental advances in understanding and treating TB.

In groundbreaking experiments, Trudeau established that both the bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the environment have roles in the development of TB. With this new knowledge, Trudeau pioneered the American Sanatorium Model as an effective means to manage the disease. The village of Saranac Lake became a center for patients of all economic and social classes seeking state-of-the-art TB treatment. The Saranac Laboratory closed in 1964. On-going experiments moved to the Trudeau Institute, where Trudeau’s scientific legacy continues to inspire advances in the microbial sciences

Following the plaque unveiling ceremony, a reception was hosted by Trudeau Institute to honor the occasion at the Hotel Saranac.