Dr Frank Fenner (born 1914) is an Australian scientist with a distinguished career in the field of virology. His two greatest achievements are cited as the eradication of smallpox, and the control of Australia's rabbit plague through the introduction of myxoma virus. 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Virology is the study of viruses and their properties. ... Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... Genera Pentalagus Bunolagus Nesolagus Romerolagus Brachylagus Sylvilagus Oryctolagus Poelagus Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae, found in many parts of the world. ... A myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. ...

Early career

Frank Fenner was born in Ballarat on December 12, 1914, he completed his undergraduate studies in Science (1938) and Medicine (1942) at the University of Adelaide. From 1940-1946 he was a Captain and Major in the Australian Army Medical Corps with service in Australia, Palestine, Egypt, New Guinea, and Borneo, as medical officer in field ambulance and casualty clearing station, pathologist to general hospital, and malariologist. Ballarat is a city in regional Victoria, Australia, approximately 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, with a population of 84,000 people. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... University of Adelaide Sub Cruce Lumen The light under the Cross The University of Adelaide, located in the center of Adelaide, South Australia, was founded in 1874, making it the third oldest university in Australia. ... The term Palestine may refer to: Palestine: A geographical region in the Middle East, centered on Jerusalem. ... Borneo (including the Kalimantan provinces of Indonesia, Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia, and Brunei) is the third largest island in the world. ... Ambulance An ambulance is a vehicle designated for the transport of sick or injured people. ... Pathology (in ancient Greek pathos = feeling, pain, suffering and logos = discourse or treatise, i. ... Malaria - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Following his war-time service he was recruited to work at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne by Frank Macfarlane Burnet. Initially they worked on smallpox in mice mousepox, for which he coined the term 'mousepox' and later on poxvirus genetics. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institue of Medical Research is located in Parkville, Melbourne. ... Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnet (September 3, 1899 - August 31, 1985) was an Australian biologist. ... Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... Genera Subfamily Chordopoxvirinae    Orthopoxvirus    Parapoxvirus    Avipoxvirus    Capripoxvirus    Leporipoxvirus    Suipoxvirus    Molluscipoxvirus    Yatapoxvirus Subfamily Entomopoxvirinae    Entomopoxvirus A    Entomopoxvirus B    Entomopoxvirus C Poxviruses (members of the family Poxviridae) can infect as a family both vertebrate and invertebrate animals. ... Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ...

In 1949 he received a fellowship to study at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York City, he worked on mycobacterium Bairnsdale bacillus, which causes Buruli ulcer, the third most important mycobacterial disease worldwide after tuberculosis and leprosy. Here he worked with and was influenced by René Dubos, who invented the phrase 'think globally, act locally'. Rockefeller University is a small private university focusing primarily on graduate education and research in the biomedical fields, located between 63rd and 68th street on York Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan island in New York City, New York. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... Species see text Mycobacterium is the a genus of actinobacteria, given its own family, the Mycobacteriaceae. ... Tuberculous lungs show up on an X-ray image Tuberculosis is an infection with the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system (meningitis), lymphatic system, circulatory system (miliary TB), genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... Father Damien was a Roman Catholic missionary who helped lepers on Hawaii and also died of the disease. ... Dr. René Jules Dubos (February 20, 1901 - 1982) was a French born American microbiologist, pathologist, environmentalist and Pulitizer Prize winning author. ...

Career in Canberra

Returning to Australia in 1949, he was appointed Professor of Microbiology at the new John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University, Canberra. Here he began studying viruses again, in particular the myxoma virus. Microbiology (in Greek micron = small and biologia = studying life) is the study of microorganisms, including unicellular (single-celled) eukaryotes and prokaryotes, fungi, and viruses. ... The Australian National University (ANU), is a university located in Canberra, the national capital of Australia. ... Two of Canberras best-known landmarks, Parliament House and (foreground) Old Parliament House. ... A myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. ...

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Australia had severe rabbit plagues, Fenner's work on the myxoma virus showed that initially it killed rabbits in nine to 11 days and was 99.5% lethal. Under heavy selection pressure, the few rabbits that survived developed resistance, which meant that the pest was never completely eradicated, but their numbers were reduced. Prior to the release of the virus as a biological control for the rabbits, Fenner, Frank Macfarlane Burnet, and Ian Clunies Ross famously injected themselves with myxoma virus, to prove it was not dangerous for humans. Biological control of pests and diseases Overview A key belief of the organic gardener is that diversity furthers health. ... Sir Frank MacFarlane Burnet (September 3, 1899 - August 31, 1985) was an Australian biologist. ... Sir Ian Clunies Ross (1899-1959) is described as the architect of Australias scientific boom, for his stewardship of Australias scientific organisation the CSIRO. Early career Clunies Ross was born in Bathurst, New South Wales on February 22, 1899. ...

Fenner was Director of the John Curtin School from 1967 to 1973. During this time he was also Chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication. Professor Fenner announced the eradication of the disease to the World Health Assembly in 1980. This success story is regarded as the greatest achievement of the World Health Organisation. Before its eradication, smallpox was one of the world's most virulent viruses, responsible for millions of deaths, and leaving many of the victims who survived with disfiguring scars for life. For other meanings of the acronym WHO, see WHO (disambiguation) WHO flag Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health. ...

Professor Fenner has an abiding interest in the environment, and was the foundation Director of the Centre for Resources and Environmental Studies at the ANU (1973), where he worked until his retirement in 1979. He is a keen supporter of Australia having an ecologically, socially sustainable population. He is currently Emeritus Professor at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. The Australian National University (ANU), is a university located in Canberra, the national capital of Australia. ...

Honours

Of the many honours Professor Fenner received throughout his career, there are the following:

• The Japan Prize (Preventive Medicine), 1988
• Copley medal of the Royal Society, 1995
• Albert Einstein World Award for Science, 2000
• Clunies Ross Lifetime Contribution National Science and Technology Award, 2002
• Both the Frank Fenner building which houses the ANU Medical School and Faculty of Science, and a residential college Fenner Hall are named in honour of Frank Fenner.
• WHO medail
• ANZAAS Medal
• ANZAC Peace Prize
• Matthew Flinders Medal
• Britannica Australia Award for Medicine
• 2002 Prime Ministers Prize for Science

The Japan Prize is awarded to people from all parts of the world whose original and outstanding achievements in science and technology are recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and served the cause of peace and prosperity for mankind. ... Who can refer to: WHO, World Health Organization The Who, a British rock band The Guess Who, a Canadian rock band who (pronoun), an English language interrogative pronoun. ...

References

• Australian Academy of Science-Interview with Professor Frank Fenner (http://www.science.org.au/scientists/ff.htm)
• Professor Frank Fenner's Webpage at JCMSR (http://jcsmr.anu.edu.au/fenner/index.htm)