Maurice Hilleman

Microbiologist who developed over 36 vaccines, saving millions of lives; class of 1938

What is Maurice Hilleman known for?

Born on August 30, 1919 in Miles City, Montana, Maurice Ralph Hilleman carved a name for himself as one of the greatest microbiologists and vaccinologists in the world. Known for developing over 40 vaccines, his contributions are credited with saving nearly eight million lives each year.

Among the 14 vaccines routinely recommended in American vaccine schedules, Hilleman and his team were responsible for developing eight notable ones. These include vaccines for measles, mumps, hepatitis A & B, chickenpox, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae bacteria. Hilleman's vaccine also famously saved hundreds of thousands of lives during the 1957-1958 Asian flu pandemic. His other discoveries include the concept of antigenic shift and drift, cold-producing adenoviruses, the hepatitis viruses, and the potentially cancer-causing virus SV40.

His early life in Montana, especially the work with chickens on his family's farm, played a significant role in shaping his career in virology and microbiology. Despite financial struggles, Hilleman managed to graduate first in his class from Montana State University in 1941, with the help of family and scholarships. He went on to earn a doctoral degree in microbiology from the University of Chicago in 1944, where his focus was on chlamydia infections.

Hilleman's illustrious career spanned several decades and institutions, most notably at E.R. Squibb & Sons, now known as Bristol-Myers Squibb. His revolutionary work in the field of vaccinology has earned him several prestigious awards, including the National Medal of Science (1988), the Robert Koch Prize (Gold, 1989), the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal (1997), and the Prince Mahidol Award (2002).

Unfortunately, this luminary left us on April 11, 2005, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His legacy, however, continues to influence and save lives through his remarkable contributions to medical science.

More about Hilleman's life and work can be found on his Wikipedia page.