Biohistory Jyournal, Autumn, 2002

Scientist Library: Index > From research of virus to discovery of the oncogene

From research of virus to discovery of the oncogene

Hidesaburo Hanafusa, Director Osaka Bioscience Institute

photograph by Naruaki Onishi

Hidesaburo Hanafusa 1929: Born in Hyogo Prefecture 1953: Graduated from the School of Science, Osaka University, with a degree in chemistry Became a research fellow at the school 1958: Named assistant at the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases 1961: Named researcher at the University of California Berkeley’s virus laboratory 1964: Was a visiting scientist at the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, College de France; Paris, France 1966: Appointed Director of the Department of Viral Oncology at the Public Health Research Institute of the City of New York 1973: Appointed Professor, Rockefeller University, United States (Molecular Oncology) 1986: Named Leon Hess Professor, Rockefeller University, United States 1998: Named Professor Emeritus, Rockefeller University, United States Named Director, Osaka Bioscience Institute 1982 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award 1984 Asahi Press Prize 1985 Foreign Associate of US Academy of Sciences

While using viruses to conduct research elucidating the basis of living creatures—self-propagation—Dr. Hanafusa discovered cancer genes in the viruses. He also discovered that they originated in normal cells. That discovery caused him to switch to the complex quagmire of cancer research and pointed the way to his later research. Dr. Hanafusa does not want to do the same things as other people. He laughs and says that he could not quit once he experienced the joy of science, which is understanding something new after careful thought and devising experiments.     He has conducted most of his research in the United States, where research could be performed in a far better environment than that in Japan. He says that he wants to work for the benefit of Japan. It was wonderful to hear him describe the brilliance of his late wife Teruko, who was his research partner.

While at the Osaka University Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Receiving the Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (Extreme right)

At Rockefeller University

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