Leading researcher in the global eradication of smallpox and developer of the myxoma virus to control rabbit populations. Made significant contributions to the fields of microbiology and virology.
Frank Fenner, a renowned Australian scientist, left an indelible mark on the world of virology with his groundbreaking contributions to the eradication of smallpox and the control of the rabbit plague in Australia. His remarkable career is a testament to his unwavering dedication to the advancement of science and humanity.
Born on December 21, 1914, in Ballarat, Australia, Frank Johannes Fenner moved to Adelaide with his family in 1916. He attended Rose Park Primary School and Thebarton Technical School before pursuing a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Adelaide in 1938.
Fenner's career was marked by his involvement in various expeditions and research projects. In 1937, he was part of an anthropological expedition to Nepabunna Mission in the northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia, led by J.B. Cleland. During World War II, he served as a captain and major in the Australian Army Medical Corps, combatting malaria in Papua New Guinea, for which he was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1945.
Following the war, Fenner joined the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, led by Frank Macfarlane Burnet. There, he focused on smallpox in mice, coining the term "mousepox," and later delved into the genetics of poxvirus. His work with Burnet laid the foundation for his later achievements in smallpox eradication.
In the 1960s, Fenner joined the World Health Organization's (WHO) global campaign to eradicate smallpox. As the leader of the WHO's Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication, he worked tirelessly to develop and implement strategies for the systematic elimination of the disease. His efforts culminated in the declaration of smallpox eradication in 1980, making it the first and only human disease to be completely eliminated from the planet.
In an effort to control the rabbit plague that had been devastating Australian agriculture, Fenner introduced the Myxoma virus in the 1950s. The experiment, though controversial, effectively reduced the rabbit population and became a groundbreaking example of biological control.
Fenner's remarkable journey was marked by his unwavering commitment to science and humanity. His achievements have inspired generations of scientists and continue to shape the world of virology and medicine. Frank Fenner passed away on November 22, 2010, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the annals of scientific history.
Born in 1899
Australian Nobel laureate who discovered the acquired immunity against viral and bacterial infections, and proposed the clonal selection theory.
82 Years Old
Australian structural biologist and academic renowned for determining the three-dimensional structures of important proteins, including the influenza virus neuraminidase, and developing anti-influenza drugs.
