David Tyrrell

David Tyrrell

David Tyrrell, pioneering virologist

Born	19 June 1925
Birth place	Ashford, Kent, England
Died	2 May 2005
Place of death	Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Nationality	British
Known for	Discovery of human coronaviruses

David Arthur John Tyrrell (19 June 1925 – 2 May 2005) was a renowned British virologist who made significant contributions to the study of respiratory viruses, particularly the common cold and coronaviruses. He is best known for his work at the Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, where he led groundbreaking research that led to the discovery of the first human coronavirus.

Early Life and Education

David Tyrrell was born in Ashford, Kent, England. He attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied medicine and developed an interest in virology. After completing his medical degree, Tyrrell pursued further research in the field of infectious diseases.

Career

Common Cold Unit

In 1957, Tyrrell became the director of the Common Cold Unit, a research facility established by the Medical Research Council to study the common cold. Under his leadership, the unit conducted numerous studies on the transmission and prevention of cold viruses.

Discovery of Human Coronaviruses

In the 1960s, Tyrrell and his team at the Common Cold Unit isolated a novel virus from patients with colds. This virus, later named coronavirus, was found to be distinct from other known cold viruses such as rhinoviruses. Tyrrell's work laid the foundation for the identification of several human coronaviruses, including those responsible for SARS and COVID-19.

Later Work

After retiring from the Common Cold Unit, Tyrrell continued to contribute to virology through his writing and advisory roles. He authored several books and articles on virology and infectious diseases.

Legacy

David Tyrrell's pioneering work in virology has had a lasting impact on the field. His discovery of human coronaviruses has been crucial in understanding and responding to viral outbreaks. The methodologies developed under his guidance continue to influence research in respiratory viruses.

Also see

• Common Cold
• Coronavirus
• Virology
• SARS
• COVID-19