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 1949) is a British scientist. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020.
Sir Michael is famous for his important work on Hepatitis C. In 1989, he and his team discovered the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). This discovery was a huge step forward in medicine.
Before this, it was risky to get blood transfusions. People could get a serious liver disease without knowing why. Thanks to Sir Michael's work, scientists could create tests. These tests find HCV in blood donations. This has made blood transfusions much safer. It has prevented many new infections around the world.
Today, Sir Michael works at the University of Alberta in Canada. He is a top expert in Virology, which is the study of viruses.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Houghton was born in London in 1949. He grew up in a working-class family. His father was a truck driver.
He was a bright student and earned a scholarship. This allowed him to attend Alleyn's School in London. He focused on science subjects like physics and chemistry.
Later, he went to the University of East Anglia. He earned a degree in biological sciences in 1972. He then continued his studies at King's College London. In 1977, he received his PhD in biochemistry.
Discovering Hepatitis C
Sir Michael Houghton joined a company called Chiron Corporation in 1982. It was there that his most famous work began. He worked with his colleagues Qui-Lim Choo and George Kuo. They also collaborated with Daniel W. Bradley.
Together, they searched for the cause of a mysterious liver disease. This disease was often spread through blood transfusions. In 1989, they finally found it: the Hepatitis C virus.
This discovery was a breakthrough. It helped doctors understand why many people were getting sick. It also opened the door for new ways to protect people.
Making Blood Safer
After discovering HCV, Sir Michael and his team worked quickly. They found ways to detect Hepatitis C antibodies in blood. Antibodies are what your body makes to fight off infections.
This led to the creation of a blood screening test in 1990. By 1992, a more sensitive test was developed. This meant that blood banks could check donated blood for HCV.
Thanks to these tests, the risk of getting Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion is now very low. This has saved countless lives and prevented many infections.
Working on a Vaccine
Sir Michael's team continued their research. In 2013, at the University of Alberta, they made another important finding. They showed that a vaccine could be effective against Hepatitis C.
This vaccine was designed to work against all types of the virus. As of 2020, this vaccine was still being tested. It holds great promise for preventing Hepatitis C in the future.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Michael Houghton has received many awards for his scientific work. These awards recognize his huge impact on health.
- 1992 – Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award
- 1993 – Robert Koch Prize
- 2000 – Lasker Award
- 2013 – He was offered the Gairdner Foundation International Award. However, he politely declined it. He felt that his colleagues, Dr. Qui-Lim Choo and Dr. George Kuo, should also be included.
- 2019 – He received an honorary doctorate from the University of East Anglia.
- 2020 – He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He shared this prize with Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice.
- 2021 – He was made a Knight Bachelor by the Queen. This means he can use the title "Sir."
See also
In Spanish: Michael Houghton para niños
