Charles Weissmann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Weissmann
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Weissmann in 1982
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| Born | 14 October 1931 |
| Alma mater | University of Zurich |
Charles Weissmann (born October 14, 1931) is a famous scientist from Hungary and Switzerland. He is known for his important work in understanding how living things work at a very tiny level.
Weissmann made a big discovery when he was the first to make copies of a special protein called interferon. This protein helps our bodies fight off viruses. He also helped figure out how serious brain diseases, like "mad cow disease" and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, happen. These diseases are caused by tiny, misfolded proteins called prions.
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Who is Charles Weissmann?
Charles Weissmann is a molecular biologist, which means he studies the building blocks of life, like DNA and proteins. His research has helped us understand many diseases and how to fight them.
Early Life and Education
Weissmann studied at the University of Zurich. He earned his medical degree (MD) in 1956. Later, in 1961, he received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. This strong science background helped him become a leading researcher.
Building a Company
In 1978, Weissmann helped start a company called Biogen in Geneva. Biogen was one of the first companies to use science to create new medicines. It became a very important company in the world of biotechnology.
Weissmann held many important jobs. He was the head of the Institute for Molecular Biology in Zurich. He also led the Roche Research Foundation. For a time, he was the chairman of the Department of Infectology at Scripps Florida.
Amazing Discoveries
One of Weissmann's most famous achievements was cloning and expressing interferon. This means he was able to make copies of this important protein. Interferon is used to treat diseases like hepatitis and some cancers.
His work on prion diseases was also groundbreaking. He helped explain how these unusual diseases affect the brain. His research has been key to understanding conditions like scrapie in animals and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans.
Awards and Recognition
Charles Weissmann has received many awards for his scientific work. These awards show how important his discoveries have been.
- Sir Hans Krebs Medal (1974)
- Otto Warburg Medal (1980)
- Scheele Award (1982)
- Wilhelm Exner Medal (1996)
- Max Delbrück Medal (1997)
- Mendel Medal (1998)
He is also a member of many important science groups around the world. These include the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society in the UK. In 2011, New York University gave him an honorary science degree.
