Over the past century, there have been more advances in science and technology than in all the years that came before; medical innovations have been among the most startling. While new discoveries continually accelerate the rate of progress, even the most revolutionary developments stand on the shoulders of their predecessors. For this reason, Medicines: The Inside Story is firmly rooted in a historical tradition, looking to the past in order to give viewers a better sense of where they are in this rapidly changing picture.

Despite this steady progress, however, as a society we have not kept up with the changes in medicines. The news is filled with so many reports of medical advances that most people expect that there will always be fast, effective, and accessible cures for every condition. Although we have cured or prevented many diseases and are making remarkable strides against others, the fact remains that many challenges still lie ahead.

The Medicines exhibition lays out the wealth of our knowledge and illuminates the gaps that remain, empowering visitors to participate in taking care of their own health. But Medicines alone cannot provide all of the answers, and it is my hope that visitors will come away from the project wanting to know more. I hope that they will ask questions, read books and newspapers, and use the growing collection of electronic resources to find out more about their bodies and about the medicines that help keep them healthy.

We have chosen to focus on the medicines themselves in order to better understand what they are, how they work, how they are used, and the roles they play in people's lives. The project also looks at some pressing issues that have gained public attention: animal testing, clinical trials, quackery, and alternative systems of medicine. We have been scrupulous in our efforts to present a balanced view on these controversial topics, and visitors will find tools that allow them to explore and understand the issues for themselves.

It has been a privilege for me to create and direct Medicines: The Inside Story, and I would like to personally thank Glaxo Wellcome Inc. for offering me this unusual opportunity. Glaxo Wellcome provided not only the necessary funding, but the creative freedom to do the job right. Their flexibility and "hands-off" policy allowed me to stretch my imagination in what seemed like limitless directions, and ultimately led to the production of an extraordinary exhibition, planetarium show, education program, and symposium. The staff at Glaxo Wellcome continually responded to our needs with both their time and expertise.

A number of individuals at Glaxo Wellcome merit special mention. On behalf of the Medicines team, I would like to thank Charles A. Sanders, M.D., former CEO of Glaxo Inc., for giving the project initial approval and Dr. Margaret Dardess for overseeing the project with a gentle and supportive hand. Dr. Robert A. Ingram, CEO of Glaxo Wellcome Inc., has actively supported the project and helped it to develop far beyond its initial conception, and for that I am grateful. A special thank you to Dr. Elliott Sogol for his role in the creation of the project and for being a colleague, mentor, and friend to us all. For many of the visuals, thanks are due to Chig Wills and his talented design staff.

Hundreds of people and organizations have helped to make this project possible. However, there are a few individuals who have truly been the foundation on which we stand, and we would like to acknowledge them here: Dr. John Parascandola for his truly valued advice and seemingly endless knowledge; Dr. Greg Higby for believing in us; and our core advisers and readers-Dr. David Triggle, Dr. Phil Skolnick, and Dr. John Swann-for their countless hours and free advice.

Special thanks go to Dr. Michael Heisler not only for his wise advice but for embracing the project and bringing it under the supportive roof of its administrative host, the Task Force for Child Survival and Development. Thanks also to Dr. William Foege and the Task Force Board of Directors for making us a partner in health education.

I would also like to recognize our contractors, the partners who translated our ideas and images into reality. We would like to extend our thanks to Miles Fridberg Molinaroli for the exhibition design, print graphics, and this website; to Image Communications for the interactives and videos; and to Sky-Skan for the planetarium show. Our appreciation also goes to Design and Production for fabricating the exhibition and to Artex for allowing it to travel gently on its way.

Finally, I have been extremely lucky in finding the unique group of people who became the Medicines staff. Their hard work and support are responsible for the creative quality and effectiveness of Medicines as a whole. All of the staffers have given much of themselves to the project and they have been singularly devoted to excellence in its every aspect. The group includes Gail Prensky, Patti Tuohy, Tom DiGiovanni, Katie Gray, Kathleen McRoberts, Teri Kestenbaum, Jane Ilsley, Abigail Porter, Deborah Pennington, Edwina Smith, Mark Parascandola, Kati Lynch, Bill Laffey, Gladys Johnson, and Marguerite Smith.

We are grateful to the following for providing photographs and images used on this website: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Eli Lilly and Company Archives; Food and Drug Administration History Office; Glaxo Wellcome Creative Services; National Center for Human Genome Research; Penland Studio; August Scheele; Science Service Photo Collection, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution; U.S. Public Health Service.

I hope you find the finished project every bit as exhilarating and eye-opening as it has been for us to bring it to you.

Michael R. Harris