Robin Weiss
Encyclopedia
Robert Anthony "Robin" Weiss (born 1940) is a British
molecular biologist
, and Professor of Viral Oncology at University College London
.
es, initially as a means of understanding T-cell leukemia
and other cancer
s, which may be caused by retroviruses. A break-through discovery in 1971 was that the retroviral genome
in chickens follows the rules of Mendelian inheritance
. Later his work moved on to HIV
, also a retrovirus, and made several new important discoveries, most notably identifying CD4
on lymphocyte
s as the binding receptor for HIV.
, a position he held since 1983.
Until 2005, Weiss was Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Cancer
. His successor, A. J. Harris, states that Weiss showed "clear vision in developing the British Journal of Cancer into [a] multidisciplinary journal with a focus on research that aims to deliver benefits to cancer patients."
. In 1997, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1997, and in 1999 he became an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians
.
In November 2001, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
awarded Weiss the M. W. Beijerinck Prize for Virology, noting especially his work on retroviruses. In the same year, he delivered the Leeuwenhoek Lecture
.
In 2007, Imperial College London
awarded Weiss the Ernst Chain Prize, noting that he "has pioneered our understanding of HIV and AIDS, particularly on the identification of CD4 as the HIV receptor and on the analysis of neutralizing antibodies to the virus".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
molecular biologist
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, and Professor of Viral Oncology at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Research
His research has focussed on retrovirusRetrovirus
A retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell's DNA...
es, initially as a means of understanding T-cell leukemia
T-cell leukemia
T-cell leukemia describes several different types of lymphoid leukemia which affect T cells.Types include:* Large granular lymphocytic leukemia* Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma* T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia...
and other cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
s, which may be caused by retroviruses. A break-through discovery in 1971 was that the retroviral genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
in chickens follows the rules of Mendelian inheritance
Mendelian inheritance
Mendelian inheritance is a scientific description of how hereditary characteristics are passed from parent organisms to their offspring; it underlies much of genetics...
. Later his work moved on to HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, also a retrovirus, and made several new important discoveries, most notably identifying CD4
CD4
CD4 is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of T helper cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. It was discovered in the late 1970s and was originally known as leu-3 and T4 before being named CD4 in 1984...
on lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.Under the microscope, lymphocytes can be divided into large lymphocytes and small lymphocytes. Large granular lymphocytes include natural killer cells...
s as the binding receptor for HIV.
Career
Before becoming professor at UCL, Weiss was the director of the British Institute of Cancer ResearchInstitute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research is a cancer research institute located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The ICR was founded in 1909 as a research department of the Royal Marsden Hospital and joined the University of London in 2003...
, a position he held since 1983.
Until 2005, Weiss was Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Cancer
British Journal of Cancer
The British Journal of Cancer a twice-monthly professional medical journal of Cancer Research UK , published on their behalf by the Nature Publishing Group ....
. His successor, A. J. Harris, states that Weiss showed "clear vision in developing the British Journal of Cancer into [a] multidisciplinary journal with a focus on research that aims to deliver benefits to cancer patients."
Awards and recognition
In 1977, Weiss was elected a member of the European Molecular Biology OrganizationEuropean Molecular Biology Organization
EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The EMBO mission is to enable the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment....
. In 1997, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1997, and in 1999 he became an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
.
In November 2001, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands...
awarded Weiss the M. W. Beijerinck Prize for Virology, noting especially his work on retroviruses. In the same year, he delivered the Leeuwenhoek Lecture
Leeuwenhoek Lecture
The Leeuwenhoek Lecture is a prize lecture of the Royal Society originally given annually, but now every three years, on the subject of microbiology. It is named after the Dutch microscopist Anton van Leeuwenhoek and was instituted in 1948 from a bequest...
.
In 2007, Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
awarded Weiss the Ernst Chain Prize, noting that he "has pioneered our understanding of HIV and AIDS, particularly on the identification of CD4 as the HIV receptor and on the analysis of neutralizing antibodies to the virus".