William French Anderson

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Dr. W. French Anderson at Gene therapy press conference (cropped)

William French Anderson
Born	December 31, 1936 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Harvard Medical School
Known for	Gene therapy
Scientific career
Fields	Genetics, Molecular biology
Institutions	University of Southern California

William French Anderson (born December 31, 1936) is an American physician, geneticist, and molecular biologist. He is often referred to as the "father of gene therapy" for his pioneering work in the field.

Early Life and Education

Anderson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Harvard Medical School, where he earned his M.D. degree.

Career

After completing his education, Anderson joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he conducted significant research in genetics and molecular biology. He later became a professor at the University of Southern California.

Gene Therapy

Anderson is best known for his groundbreaking work in gene therapy. In 1990, he led the first approved human gene therapy clinical trial, which aimed to treat a young girl with ADA-SCID, a severe immune system disorder. This trial marked a significant milestone in the field of genetic engineering and opened the door for further research and development in gene therapy.

Legal Issues

In 2006, Anderson was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to prison. This conviction has overshadowed his scientific contributions and has been a subject of significant controversy.

Legacy

Despite the legal issues, Anderson's contributions to gene therapy have had a lasting impact on the field of genetics and molecular biology. His work has paved the way for numerous advancements in the treatment of genetic disorders.

See Also

• Gene therapy
• Genetic engineering
• Molecular biology
• Adenosine deaminase deficiency