Lionel Crawford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lionel Crawford
FRS, FRSE
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|---|---|
| Born |
Lionel Vivian Crawford
1932 (age 92–93) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
| Awards | Gabor Medal (2005) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | virology, cancer research |
| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley California Institute of Technology Glasgow Institute of Virology Imperial Cancer Research Fund University of Cambridge |
Dr. Lionel Vivian Crawford (born in 1932) is a British scientist. He is famous for his work on cancer and viruses. He has made important discoveries that help us understand how cancer develops.
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About Dr. Lionel Crawford
Dr. Lionel Crawford is a leading expert in two important fields. He specializes in virology, which is the study of viruses. He also works in cancer research, which focuses on understanding and fighting cancer. His discoveries have helped scientists learn more about how certain viruses can cause cancer.
Early Life and Education
Lionel Crawford went to Rendcomb College from 1941 to 1950. After school, he joined the National Service. This was a time when young people in the UK had to serve in the armed forces.
In 1952, he began studying at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He earned a top degree in subjects like Botany, Zoology, and Chemistry in 1955. He continued his studies at Cambridge. In 1958, he completed his PhD in biochemistry.
His Scientific Journey
After finishing his PhD, Dr. Crawford traveled to the United States. He worked as a visiting researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. He also spent time at the California Institute of Technology. These were important steps in his early career.
In 1960, he returned to the UK. He became a researcher at the Glasgow Institute of Virology. Here, he focused on studying viruses.
Leading Cancer Research
In 1968, Dr. Crawford took on a big role. He became the head of the Department of Virology at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. This organization works to find cures for cancer. He led this department for many years, until 1988.
During this time, he made some of his most important discoveries. He studied small DNA tumour viruses. These are viruses that can cause tumors, which are abnormal growths. He specifically looked at a group of viruses called papova viruses. This group includes papilloma, polyoma, and SV40 viruses.
Key Discoveries
Dr. Crawford is especially known for his work on a protein called p53. In 1979, he was the first to describe this protein. Over the next few years, he showed how important p53 is. He proved that it plays a key role in tumorogenesis. This is the process by which normal cells turn into cancer cells. The p53 protein acts like a guardian, helping to prevent cancer.
Awards and Recognition
In 1988, Dr. Crawford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. It recognizes their excellent contributions to science.
In 2005, he received the Gabor Medal from the Royal Society. This award honored his important work on DNA tumour viruses. His research helped us understand how these viruses contribute to cancer.
After his time at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, he returned to the University of Cambridge. He continued his research in the Pathology Department. His work has greatly advanced our understanding of viruses and cancer.
