Person Epstein; Sir; Michael Anthony (1921 - 2024); virologist Epstein Michael Anthony Sir virologist 1921 - 2024 British Male London, England 18/05/1921 19210518 His home, London, England 06/02/2024 20240206

Virologist Oncology Pathology Microbiology Cell biology Virology Education: St. Paul's School, London; Trinity College, Cambridge; Middlesex Hospital Medical School. Career: Royal Army Medical Corps (1945–47); assistant pathologist at the Middlesex Hospital; Professor of Pathology, University of Bristol (1968-1985); head of department (1968-1982); served as a fellow at the Wolfson College (1986). Honours: CBE 1985; Kt 1991 Awards/Medals: Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize 1973 Parents: Mortimer Epstein, writer and translator, and Olga Epstein, charity worker. Spouse: Lisbeth Knight (married 1950; separated 1965); Kate Ward, virologist (long-term partner). Children: One daughter and two sons, from first marriage. Noted for discovering a new herpes virus (later named Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) after him) while searching for a causative virus in a lymphoid children's cancer, Burkitt lymphoma (BL). This was the first discovery of a human cancer virus. An essential step in the search involved growing BL cells in the lab and Anthony thus achieved the first culture of any human lymphocytic cell - a technique important for many other investigations. His work laid the groundwork for the discovery of other oncogenic viruses including HPV (human papillomavirus), which can cause cervical cancer and is now the target of routine vaccination in the UK. Avid supporter of Humanists UK. Royal Society roles: Council: 1983-1985, 1986-1991; For Sec 1986-1991; VP 1986-1991 Medals and prizes: Royal Medal 1992 Lectures: Leeuwenhoek 1983; Florey 1986; UK-Canada Rutherford 1988; Humphry Davy 1992 Fellow 15/03/1979 57 References: 'Address of the President, Sir Michael Atiyah, OM, Given at the Anniversary Meeting on 30 November 1992' in NR 1993 vol 47 pp 109-118 Fellows Directory, Sir Anthony Epstein CBE FMedSci FRS, on The Royal Society Website [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/anthony-epstein-11403/; last accessed: 04/12/2024] Obituary, Sir Michael Anthony Epstein, on the Lancet website [URL:https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(24)00242-1.pdf; last accessed: 04/12/2024] Rickinson, Alan, Obituary, Anthony Epstein (1921-2024), discoverer of virus causing cancer in humans, on Nature website [URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00763-9; last accessed: 04/12/2024] Obituary: Sir Anthony Epstein 1921-2024, 30 April 2024, on the Wolfson College website [URL:https://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/news/obituary-sir-anthony-epstein-1921-2024/; last accessed: 04/12/2024] International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Epstein%2C+Michael+Anthony RCN 17434 RCN 11333 18 May 1921 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 04/12/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7697 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 05/06/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes a6b407d8-dad8-48bf-a749-aa8980c5467e