Francis Peyton Rous

Peyton Rous nobel

Francis Peyton Rous (October 5, 1879 – February 16, 1970) was an American virologist whose work on the virus responsible for chicken sarcoma significantly advanced the understanding of cancer and its origins. Rous was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1966 for his discovery of the Rous sarcoma virus, the first known example of a tumor-causing virus, which ultimately laid the foundation for the field of oncology and the study of oncoviruses.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Francis Peyton Rous was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and developed an interest in biology at an early age. He pursued his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University, where he also received his medical degree in 1905. After completing his medical studies, Rous joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (now the Rockefeller University), where he would spend the majority of his career.

Career and Research[edit | edit source]

In 1910, Rous made a groundbreaking discovery when he found that a sarcoma in chickens could be transmitted by a filterable agent, later identified as a virus. This agent was named the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and was the first solid evidence that cancers could be caused by viruses, a concept that was met with skepticism at the time.

Rous continued his research into cancer, exploring the role of viruses in the disease and investigating the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. His work extended beyond virology to include studies on liver regeneration and the role of diet in cancer development.

Despite the initial resistance to his ideas, the significance of Rous's discovery was eventually recognized, and it opened new avenues for cancer research, particularly in the study of viral oncogenesis and the development of cancer vaccines.

Nobel Prize[edit | edit source]

Francis Peyton Rous was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1966, more than half a century after his initial discovery. The Nobel Committee acknowledged his pioneering work on tumor-inducing viruses, highlighting its impact on the understanding of cancer and its origins.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Rous's work has had a lasting impact on the field of oncology and virology. His discovery of the Rous sarcoma virus not only proved that viruses could cause cancer but also spurred further research into viral oncogenesis, leading to the identification of other oncogenic viruses, such as the Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which are known to cause cervical cancer and liver cancer, respectively.

Rous's contributions to medical science have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, in addition to the Nobel Prize. His legacy continues to influence current research in cancer biology and the development of cancer therapies.