Peyton Rous

Peyton Rous

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Peyton Rous

Born	(1879-10-05)October 5, 1879
Birth place	Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Died	February 16, 1970(1970-02-16) (aged 90)
Place of death	New York City, USA
Nationality	American
Known for	Discovery of oncogenic viruses
Awards	Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1966)

Francis Peyton Rous (October 5, 1879 – February 16, 1970) was an American pathologist who made significant contributions to the field of oncology through his discovery of the role of viruses in the development of cancer. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the field of tumor virology.

Early Life and Education

Peyton Rous was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and he pursued his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, where he developed an interest in medicine and biology. He continued his education at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, earning his medical degree in 1905.

Career and Research

After completing his medical degree, Rous joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in 1909, where he began his pioneering research on cancer. In 1911, Rous made a landmark discovery when he demonstrated that a sarcoma in chickens could be transmitted by a cell-free filtrate, suggesting that a virus was responsible for the cancer. This virus was later named the Rous sarcoma virus.

Rous's work was initially met with skepticism, as the prevailing belief at the time was that cancer was caused by chemical or physical agents, not infectious ones. However, his research eventually gained recognition and laid the groundwork for the understanding of oncogenic viruses, which are viruses that can cause cancer.

Nobel Prize and Legacy

In 1966, Peyton Rous was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of tumor-inducing viruses. His work has had a profound impact on cancer research, leading to the identification of several other oncogenic viruses, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Rous's contributions to science extend beyond his Nobel-winning discovery. He also conducted important research on liver function and the immune response. His legacy continues to influence the fields of virology and oncology.

Personal Life

Peyton Rous was married to Marion Eckford de Kay, and they had three children. He was known for his dedication to research and his ability to inspire young scientists.

Also see

• Oncogenic virus
• Rous sarcoma virus
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research
• Johns Hopkins University