Fred Brown (virologist)
Encyclopedia
Fred Brown was a British
virologist and molecular biologist.
, Lancashire
and lived in neighbouring Burnley
, where he was educated at Burnley Grammar School
and played cricket
for Burnley Cricket Club
. He went on to study at Manchester University, where he graduated B.Sc in Chemistry in 1944 and received a Ph.D in 1946.
A succession of other appointments followed: Senior Scientific Officer at Christie Hospital
, Manchester (1953–55), Head of the Biochemistry Department at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright (now the Institute for Animal Health
) (1955–83) (Deputy Director (1980–83)) and Head of the Virology Department at Wellcome Biotechnology Laboratories, Beckenham {1983-90}. He was also appointed Professorial Fellow at Queen's University, Belfast (1986–2004) and Professor of Microbiology at Surrey University (1989–90) and Adjunct Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University
(1990–2004). He was a visiting scientist at the US Department of Agriculture Plum Island Animal Disease Center
, New York (1995–2004) and a consultant with the US Department of Agriculture (1990–2004). Most of his efforts were directed towards the study of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth and rabies.
He undertook substantial committee work. He was a member of an international committee on the taxonomy of viruses (1968–1981) (president (1981–1987)), chairman of the comparative virology programme run by WHO and UN, scientific secretary for the International Association of Biological Standardisation (1980); Chairman of the Royal Society Biological Education Committee (1983–1987), member of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (1990–1998) and honorary member of the Society for General Microbiology
(1991). He was also member of council and editor-in-chief of the Journal of General Virology
(1975–1980) and took part in the Royal Society Infectious Diseases in Livestock Enquiry.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1981 and delivered their Leeuwenhoek Lecture
in 1993. He was awarded an OBE in 1999.
He died in Surrey in 2004. He had married Audrey Alice Doherty in 1948: they had two sons.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
virologist and molecular biologist.
Early life
He was born in Clayton-le-MoorsClayton-le-Moors
Clayton-le-Moors is a township in Hyndburn in Lancashire, England. The town is locally referred to as 'Clayton'. To the west lies Rishton, to the north Great Harwood, and two miles to the south, Accrington. Clayton-le-Moors is situated on the A680 road alongside the M65 motorway.-Description:It is...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and lived in neighbouring Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, where he was educated at Burnley Grammar School
Burnley Grammar School
Burnley Grammar School was latterly, a state-funded selective boys grammar School, situated in Byron Street in Burnley, England. However during its long history, it moved between a number of sites in the town.-History:...
and played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Burnley Cricket Club
Burnley Cricket Club
Burnley Cricket Club, based at Turf Moor in Burnley, Lancashire, is a cricket club in the Lancashire League.The club was a founder member of the Lancashire League in 1892. Its captain for the 2011 season is Steve Brunt and its professional is Imad Wasim...
. He went on to study at Manchester University, where he graduated B.Sc in Chemistry in 1944 and received a Ph.D in 1946.
Career
He stayed at Manchester as an Assistant Lecturer for two years before taking a post as Lecturer at the Bristol University Fruit and Vegetable Preservation Research Station (1948–50) followed by one as a Senior Scientific Officer at the Hannah Dairy Research Institute, Ayr (1950–53).A succession of other appointments followed: Senior Scientific Officer at Christie Hospital
Christie Hospital
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is located in Withington, Manchester, and is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe. The Christie became a NHS Foundation Trust in April 2007 and is also an international leader in cancer research and development, and home to the Paterson Institute...
, Manchester (1953–55), Head of the Biochemistry Department at the Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright (now the Institute for Animal Health
Institute for Animal Health
The Institute for Animal Health is a research institute in the United Kingdom dedicated to the study of infectious diseases of farm animals. It forms part of the UK government's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council . The institute employs many scientists and vets, along with a...
) (1955–83) (Deputy Director (1980–83)) and Head of the Virology Department at Wellcome Biotechnology Laboratories, Beckenham {1983-90}. He was also appointed Professorial Fellow at Queen's University, Belfast (1986–2004) and Professor of Microbiology at Surrey University (1989–90) and Adjunct Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(1990–2004). He was a visiting scientist at the US Department of Agriculture Plum Island Animal Disease Center
Plum Island Animal Disease Center
Plum Island Animal Disease Center is a United States federal research facility dedicated to the study of animal diseases. It is part of the DHS Directorate for Science and Technology....
, New York (1995–2004) and a consultant with the US Department of Agriculture (1990–2004). Most of his efforts were directed towards the study of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth and rabies.
He undertook substantial committee work. He was a member of an international committee on the taxonomy of viruses (1968–1981) (president (1981–1987)), chairman of the comparative virology programme run by WHO and UN, scientific secretary for the International Association of Biological Standardisation (1980); Chairman of the Royal Society Biological Education Committee (1983–1987), member of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (1990–1998) and honorary member of the Society for General Microbiology
Society for General Microbiology
The Society for General Microbiology is a learned society based in the United Kingdom but with members in more than 60 countries. With approximately 5000 members, it is the largest microbiological society in Europe...
(1991). He was also member of council and editor-in-chief of the Journal of General Virology
Journal of General Virology
The Journal of General Virology is a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers research into viruses affecting animals, plants, insects, bacteria and fungi, including their molecular biology, immunology and interactions with the host. Antiviral compounds are also covered. Established in 1967, it...
(1975–1980) and took part in the Royal Society Infectious Diseases in Livestock Enquiry.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1981 and delivered their Leeuwenhoek Lecture
Leeuwenhoek Lecture
The Leeuwenhoek Lecture is a prize lecture of the Royal Society originally given annually, but now every three years, on the subject of microbiology. It is named after the Dutch microscopist Anton van Leeuwenhoek and was instituted in 1948 from a bequest...
in 1993. He was awarded an OBE in 1999.
He died in Surrey in 2004. He had married Audrey Alice Doherty in 1948: they had two sons.