John Franklin Enders

American biomedical scientist

John Franklin Enders receiving the Nobel Prize

John Franklin Enders (February 10, 1897 – September 8, 1985) was an American biomedical scientist and Nobel laureate. He is often referred to as "The Father of Modern Vaccines." Enders was instrumental in the development of the measles vaccine and the polio vaccine, which have saved countless lives worldwide.

Early Life and Education

John Franklin Enders was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, to a prominent family. He attended the Roxbury Latin School in Boston, Massachusetts, and later enrolled at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1920. After a brief stint in real estate, Enders pursued graduate studies at Harvard University, where he received a Ph.D. in bacteriology and immunology in 1930.

Career and Research

Enders began his career at the Harvard Medical School, where he worked in the Department of Bacteriology and Immunology. His early research focused on bacterial infections and the immune response. During World War II, Enders served as a civilian consultant to the U.S. Army, where he worked on developing vaccines for infectious diseases affecting soldiers.

Polio Research

In the late 1940s, Enders, along with his colleagues Thomas Huckle Weller and Frederick Chapman Robbins, made groundbreaking advancements in the cultivation of the poliovirus. They developed a method to grow the virus in non-nervous tissue cultures, which was a significant breakthrough in the development of the polio vaccine. This work earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1954.

John Franklin Enders

Measles Vaccine

Following his success with the polio virus, Enders turned his attention to the measles virus. In 1960, he and his team successfully isolated the measles virus and developed a vaccine that was first licensed in 1963. The measles vaccine has since become a standard part of childhood immunization programs worldwide, drastically reducing the incidence of the disease.

Legacy

John Franklin Enders' contributions to medical science have had a profound impact on public health. His work on the polio and measles vaccines has saved millions of lives and continues to be a cornerstone of modern vaccinology. Enders' pioneering techniques in virus cultivation have paved the way for the development of vaccines for other viral diseases.

Personal Life

Enders was known for his modesty and dedication to science. He was married to Sarah Frances Bennett, and they had two children. Enders passed away on September 8, 1985, in Waterford, Connecticut.

Related Pages

• Polio vaccine
• Measles vaccine
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine