Charles Weissmann
Encyclopedia
Charles Weissmann is a Hungarian-born Swiss molecular biologist.
Weissmann went to Zurich University and obtained his MD in 1956 and Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry
in 1961. Weissmann was director of the Institute for Molecular Biology in Zurich, President of the Roche Research Foundation and co-founder and Member of the Scientific Council of Biogen. He is currently Chairman of the Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida.
Weissmann won several awards and is a member of the American Society of Biological Chemistry and the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina. He also became a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
, the Royal Society
(UK) and the Orden Pour le Merite (Germany).
Weissmann is particularly known for the first cloning and expression of interferon
and his contributions to the unraveling of the molecular genetics of neurogenerative prion
diseases such as scrapie
, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and "mad cow" disease.
In 1978, Weissmann co-founded the biotech company Biogen in Geneva
. Biogen is considered one of the pioneers of the biotechnology
industries.
Weissmann went to Zurich University and obtained his MD in 1956 and Ph. D. in Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
in 1961. Weissmann was director of the Institute for Molecular Biology in Zurich, President of the Roche Research Foundation and co-founder and Member of the Scientific Council of Biogen. He is currently Chairman of the Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida.
Weissmann won several awards and is a member of the American Society of Biological Chemistry and the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina. He also became a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(UK) and the Orden Pour le Merite (Germany).
Weissmann is particularly known for the first cloning and expression of interferon
Interferon
Interferons are proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens—such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites—or tumor cells. They allow communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that eradicate pathogens or tumors.IFNs belong to...
and his contributions to the unraveling of the molecular genetics of neurogenerative prion
Prion
A prion is an infectious agent composed of protein in a misfolded form. This is in contrast to all other known infectious agents which must contain nucleic acids . The word prion, coined in 1982 by Stanley B. Prusiner, is a portmanteau derived from the words protein and infection...
diseases such as scrapie
Scrapie
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous systems of sheep and goats. It is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies , which are related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy and chronic wasting disease of deer. Like other spongiform encephalopathies, scrapie...
, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and "mad cow" disease.
In 1978, Weissmann co-founded the biotech company Biogen in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. Biogen is considered one of the pioneers of the biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
industries.