Jonas Salk
Pioneering virologist credited with developing the first successful polio vaccine.
Chronology: 1914-10-28 – 1995-06-23
Origins & Early Life
Jonas Edward Salk (; born Jonas Salk; October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) was an American virologist and medical researcher who developed one of the first successful polio vaccines. He was born in New York City and attended the City College of New York and New York University School of Medicine. In 1947, Salk accepted a professorship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he undertook a project beginning in 1948 to determine the number of different types of poliovirus. For the next seven years, Salk devoted himself to developing a vaccine against polio.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
Salk was immediately hailed as a "miracle worker" when the vaccine's success was first made public in April 1955, and chose to not patent the vaccine or seek any profit from it in order to maximize its global distribution. The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and the University of Pittsburgh looked into patenting the vaccine after deciding not to profit from it, but determined the techniques used to make the vaccine were likely not novel enough to patent. An immediate rush to vaccinate began in the United States and around the world. Many countries began polio immunization campaigns using Salk's vaccine, including...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia