Andrew McMichael facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew McMichael
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| Born | 8 November 1943 London |
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| Fields | Immunology, medicine, molecular medicine |
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| Thesis | The clonal expression of antibody-forming cells. |
| Doctoral advisor | Brigitte Askonas |
| Academic advisor | Hugh McDevitt |
| Doctoral students | Malegapuru Makgoba, Suranjith Seneviratne |
Sir Andrew James McMichael is a very important scientist. He is an immunologist, which means he studies the body's immune system. This system helps us fight off sickness. He used to lead a big research center at the University of Oxford. Sir Andrew is famous for his work on how our bodies fight viruses like the flu and HIV.
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Early Life and Education
Andrew McMichael was born in London on November 8, 1943. He went to St Paul's School. Later, he studied medicine at Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge. This was from 1962 to 1968.
After medical school, he earned his PhD. He did this at the National Institute for Medical Research. His main project was about how cells that make antibodies work. Antibodies are special proteins that help fight off germs.
Career and Research
After his PhD, Sir Andrew went to Stanford University in the United States. There, he did more research. In 1977, he came back to the UK. He started studying how our immune system's T cells fight against HIV infection. T cells are a type of white blood cell. They are very important for fighting off viruses.
His research team has even created two HIV vaccines. These vaccines were tested in early human trials. From 2000 to 2012, Sir Andrew was the director of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. This is a major research center. He also started the MRC Human Immunology Unit in 1998. He was its honorary director until 2010.
Mentoring Future Scientists
Sir Andrew McMichael has taught and guided many students. Over 55 students earned their PhDs under his guidance. Many of them became important immunologists themselves. Some of his notable students include:
- Douglas F. Nixon, a professor of immunology.
- Malegapuru Makgoba, who became a professor and university leader.
- Paul Klenerman, a professor specializing in gut health.
- Dan Barouch, a professor and director of vaccine research at Harvard.
- Suranjith Seneviratne, a professor and director of a special center for immune disorders.
He also mentored many postdoctoral researchers. These are scientists who have already earned their PhDs. They include Tomáš Hanke and Sarah Rowland-Jones, who are now both professors of immunology.
Awards and Honours
Sir Andrew McMichael has received many important awards for his work:
- Fellow of the Royal Society (1992)
- Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (2004)
- Novartis Prize for Basic Immunology (1998)
- Rose Payne Distinguished Scientist award (1998)
- Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (1998)
- Sheikh Hamdan Award (2000)
- Ambuj Nath Bose Prize, Royal College of Physicians (2001)
- Ernst Chain Prize (2006)
- Nature/NESTA Award for Lifetime Mentoring (2006)
- He was made a Knight (Sir) in 2008 for his great contributions to medical science.
Personal Life
In 1968, Andrew McMichael married Kathryn 'Kate' Elizabeth Cross. They have two sons and one daughter. He enjoys walking and skiing. He likes to do these activities at his house in La Salle les Alpes, France.
