Charles M. Rice
Early Life and Education
Charles M. Rice was born in 1952 in Sacramento, California. He developed an interest in biology during his high school years, which led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the UC Davis. After completing his undergraduate studies in 1974, Rice continued his education at the Caltech, where he earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1981.
Career and Research
After completing his Ph.D., Rice joined the staff at the Yale as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Jack Summers, where he began his research on the Hepatitis C (HCV). In 1986, Rice was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine, where he continued his research on HCV.
In 2001, Rice moved to the Rockefeller University, where he was appointed as the Maurice R. and Corinne P. Greenberg Professor in Virology and served as the Head of the Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease. His research at Rockefeller focused on the molecular biology of the Hepatitis C virus, with the aim of developing effective treatments for the disease.
Achievements and Recognition
Rice's work on the Hepatitis C virus has been widely recognized in the scientific community. In 2016, he was awarded the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for his role in the development of a system to study the replication of the Hepatitis C virus and for testing antiviral compounds.
In 2020, Rice was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine along with Harvey J. Alter and Michael Houghton for their discovery of Hepatitis C virus. This discovery has had a significant impact on global public health, as it has led to the development of blood tests and new medicines that have saved millions of lives.
Personal Life
Rice is married and has two children. He is known for his dedication to his work and his passion for science. Despite his many achievements, he maintains a humble demeanor and is highly respected by his peers and students alike.