Maurice Hilleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maurice Hilleman
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Hilleman c. 1958, as chief of the Dept. of Virus Diseases, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
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| Born |
Maurice Ralph Hilleman
August 30, 1919 |
| Died | April 11, 2005 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Montana State University University of Chicago |
| Occupation | Microbiologist, vaccinologist |
| Known for | Developing several important vaccines |
| Spouse(s) |
Thelma Mason
(m. 1943; d. 1963)Lorraine Witmer
(m. 1964) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards |
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Maurice Ralph Hilleman (born August 30, 1919 – died April 11, 2005) was a very important American scientist. He was a microbiologist who specialized in vaccines. He developed over 40 different vaccines, which is more than anyone else.
Experts believe his vaccines save nearly eight million lives every year. Many people call him one of the most important vaccine scientists ever.
Out of the 14 vaccines usually recommended for kids in the United States, Hilleman and his team created eight of them. These include vaccines for measles, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. He also helped discover how flu viruses change, and found other important viruses.
Contents
Biography
Early life and education
Maurice Hilleman was born on a farm near Miles City, Montana. He was the eighth child in his family. His twin sister died when he was born, and his mother passed away two days later. His uncle, Bob Hilleman, raised him.
Maurice worked on the family farm when he was young. He believed that working with chickens helped him become a good scientist. Since the 1930s, chicken eggs have been used to grow viruses for making vaccines.
He almost couldn't go to college because he didn't have enough money. His oldest brother helped him, and Maurice graduated first in his class from Montana State University in 1941. He then went to the University of Chicago and earned his science degree in 1944. His research showed that some infections, thought to be caused by a virus, were actually caused by a type of bacteria.
Career in science
After college, Hilleman joined a company called E.R. Squibb & Sons. There, he helped create a vaccine for Japanese B encephalitis. This disease was a threat to American soldiers during World War II.
From 1948 to 1957, he worked at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He discovered how the influenza virus changes its genetic makeup. These changes are called antigenic shift and antigenic drift. He realized this meant people would need a new flu shot every year.
In 1957, Hilleman moved to Merck & Co., a big pharmaceutical company. He led their new virus and cell biology research team. While at Merck, he developed most of his famous vaccines. He worked both in the lab and as a leader for other scientists.
Hilleman also served on many important science committees. These included groups for the National Institutes of Health and the National Immunization Program.
Fighting the Asian flu pandemic
Maurice Hilleman was one of the first people to realize that a flu outbreak in Hong Kong in 1957 could become a huge worldwide pandemic. He worked very hard, for nine 14-hour days, with a colleague. They found that it was a new type of flu that could cause many deaths.
Because of his quick work, 40 million doses of vaccine were made and sent out. Even though 69,000 Americans died, the vaccine likely saved hundreds of thousands of lives. The American military gave Hilleman a special award for his efforts.
In 1968, during the Hong Kong flu pandemic, Hilleman and his team again helped create a vaccine quickly. Nine million doses were ready in just four months.
SV40 virus discovery
Hilleman was one of the first scientists to warn that some vaccines might have hidden viruses from monkeys. One of these viruses was called SV40. It was found in the polio vaccine. This discovery led to the original polio vaccine being replaced in 1961. The SV40 virus was present in very small amounts in both types of polio vaccines. However, because one vaccine was swallowed and not injected, it did not cause infections or harm.
Mumps vaccine development
In 1963, Hilleman's daughter, Jeryl Lynn, got the mumps. He collected samples from her and used them to create a mumps vaccine. The Jeryl Lynn strain of the mumps vaccine is still used today.
This strain is part of the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Hilleman also developed the MMR vaccine, which was the first vaccine to combine protection against multiple live viruses. At that time, vaccines were sometimes tested in groups of children who were at higher risk of getting sick due to their living conditions.
Hepatitis B vaccine creation
Hilleman and his team also created a vaccine for hepatitis B. They made it by treating blood serum with special chemicals. This vaccine was approved in 1981.
In 1986, it was replaced by a new hepatitis B vaccine made using yeast. This newer vaccine is still used today. By 2003, 150 countries were using it. The number of young people getting hepatitis B in the United States dropped by 95%. Hilleman thought this vaccine was his greatest achievement.
A famous doctor, Thomas Starzl, said that controlling the hepatitis B virus was "one of the most outstanding contributions to human health of the twentieth century."
Later work and life
In his later years, Hilleman advised the World Health Organization. He retired from Merck Research Labs in 1984 when he was 65. After retiring, he led the new Merck Institute for Vaccinology. He worked there for another 20 years until he passed away in 2005.
Maurice Hilleman died in Philadelphia on April 11, 2005, at the age of 85. He was also a professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Method and personality
Hilleman was a strong and direct person, but he was also humble about his achievements. None of his vaccines or discoveries are named after him. He managed his laboratory like a military operation, and he was clearly in charge.
He was known for being very direct and sometimes intense in his communication. However, the people who worked for him were very loyal to him.
Awards and honors
Maurice Hilleman was a member of several important scientific groups. These included the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan gave him the National Medal of Science. This is the highest science award in the United States. He also received the Prince Mahidol Award from the King of Thailand for helping public health. The World Health Organization gave him a special lifetime achievement award. He also received the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service and the Sabin Gold Medal.
Legacy
In 2005, the University of Pennsylvania and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia created a special position in vaccine science named after Maurice R. Hilleman.
Robert Gallo, who helped discover HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), said in 2005: "If I had to name a person who has done more for the benefit of human health, with less recognition than anyone else, it would be Maurice Hilleman."
In 2005, Anthony Fauci, a top US health official, said that Hilleman's work was "the best kept secret among the public." He added that Hilleman was "one of the true giants of science, medicine and public health in the 20th century." Fauci also said, "One can say without exaggeration that Maurice has changed the world."
In 2007, a book about Hilleman's life was published, called Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases. In 2008, Merck named its vaccine manufacturing center in Durham, North Carolina, after him.
In 2016, a documentary film called Hilleman: A Perilous Quest to Save the World's Children was released. It tells the story of Hilleman's life and work.
Also in 2016, Montana State University started a scholarship program in his memory. It's called the Hilleman Scholars Program.
See also
In Spanish: Maurice Hilleman para niños
