Baruch Blumberg

Baruch Samuel Blumberg

Baruch Blumberg in 2009

Born	(1925-07-28)July 28, 1925
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died	April 5, 2011(2011-04-05) (aged 85)
Place of death	Moffett Field, California, USA
Nationality	American
Known for	Discovery of the Hepatitis B virus
Awards	Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1976)

Baruch Samuel Blumberg (July 28, 1925 – April 5, 2011) was an American physician, geneticist, and virologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976 for his discovery of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). His work led to the development of the first Hepatitis B vaccine, which has saved millions of lives worldwide.

Early Life and Education

Baruch Blumberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. He attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he studied physics and mathematics. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he attended Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, earning his M.D. in 1951.

Career and Research

Blumberg's early research focused on the study of genetic variations in human populations. He joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1957, where he began studying the distribution of diseases in different populations. His work led him to discover the "Australia antigen" in the blood of an Australian aborigine, which was later identified as a marker for the Hepatitis B virus.

Discovery of Hepatitis B Virus

In the 1960s, Blumberg and his team discovered the Hepatitis B virus, a major cause of liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. This discovery was pivotal in understanding the transmission and prevention of the disease. Blumberg's work led to the development of a diagnostic test for Hepatitis B and eventually to the creation of a vaccine.

Development of the Hepatitis B Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine, developed in the 1980s, was the first vaccine capable of preventing a major human cancer. It has been instrumental in reducing the incidence of Hepatitis B and liver cancer worldwide. Blumberg's contributions to this field have had a lasting impact on public health.

Later Life and Legacy

After his groundbreaking work on Hepatitis B, Blumberg continued to contribute to science and medicine. He served as the Master of Balliol College, Oxford from 1989 to 1994 and was the first director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute from 1999 to 2002. Blumberg passed away in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and humanitarian impact.

Awards and Honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Blumberg received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research and election to the National Academy of Sciences.

Also see

• Hepatitis B
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Vaccine
• Virology