Michael Houghton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Houghton
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Houghton in 2017
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| Born | 1949 (age 75–76) |
| Alma mater | University of East Anglia (BSc) King's College London (PhD) |
| Known for | Hepatitis C Hepatitis D |
| Awards | Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award (1992) Robert Koch Prize (1993) William Beaumont Prize (1994) Lasker Award (2000) Gairdner Foundation International Award (2013 – declined) Nobel Prize for Medicine (2020) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Microbiology Virology |
| Institutions | University of Alberta Chiron Corporation |
| Thesis | RNA Polymerases and Transcription in the Chicken Oviduct (1977) |
| Doctoral advisors | Norman Carey and James Chesterton |
Sir Michael Houghton, born in 1949, is a famous British scientist. He won the Nobel Prize for his important discoveries. In 1989, he and his team found the Hepatitis C virus. He also helped discover the Hepatitis D genome in 1986.
Finding the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was a huge step forward. It led to quick tests for HCV in blood. This made blood transfusions much safer. The risk of getting HCV from a transfusion dropped a lot. It went from 1 in 3 people to about 1 in 2 million. These tests have stopped many new infections worldwide.
Today, Houghton is a top expert in Virology at the University of Alberta in Canada. He is also the director of the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute. In 2020, he shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Houghton was born in the United Kingdom in 1949. His father worked as a truck driver and a union leader. Michael went to Lyndhurst Grove School for his early education.
He then won a scholarship to Alleyn's School in Dulwich, London. There, he focused on physics, chemistry, and math. He later earned another scholarship to study at the University of East Anglia. In 1972, he got his degree in biological sciences. He then completed his PhD in biochemistry in 1977. This was at King's College London.
Discovering Hepatitis Viruses
Houghton started his career at G. D. Searle & Company. In 1982, he moved to Chiron Corporation. It was at Chiron that he made his big discovery. He worked with Qui-Lim Choo, George Kuo, and Daniel W. Bradley. Together, they found the first signs of the Hepatitis C virus.
In 1989 and 1990, Houghton and his team published important studies. They found Hepatitis C antibodies in blood. This was especially true for patients who had received blood transfusions. This work quickly led to a blood screening test in 1990.
By 1992, a more sensitive test was developed. Widespread blood screening began, making donated blood supplies much safer. In Canada, this testing has almost removed Hepatitis C from blood donations. Houghton and his colleagues also found a link between Hepatitis C and liver cancer.
Developing a Vaccine
In 2013, Houghton's team at the University of Alberta made another breakthrough. They showed that a vaccine made from one type of Hepatitis C could work against all types. This was a very exciting discovery.
As of 2020, this vaccine was still being tested. It was in the early stages of pre-clinical trials. This means it was being tested in labs before human trials.
Awards and Recognitions
Sir Michael Houghton has received many awards for his scientific work. These awards recognize his important discoveries.
- 1992 – Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award
- 1993 – Robert Koch Prize
- 1994 – William Beaumont Prize
- 2000 – Lasker Award
- 2005 – Dale A. Smith Memorial Award
- 2009 – Hepdart Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2013 – He was the first person to turn down the $100,000 Gairdner Foundation International Award. He felt his colleagues, Dr. Qui-Lim Choo and Dr. George Kuo, should also be included.
- 2019 – He received an honorary doctorate of science from the University of East Anglia.
- 2020 – He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
- 2021 – He was made a Knight in the 2021 Birthday Honours for his contributions to medicine.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Houghton para niños
