Harry M. Weaver

Harry M. Weaver (March 20, 1909 – September 12, 1977)[1] was an American neuroscientist and researcher who made contributions to medical research in the fields of Multiple sclerosis, and was the Director of Research at the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis when the Polio vaccine was discovered and developed by Jonas Salk. Dr. Weaver also served as the Vice President for Research at the American Cancer Society, Vice President for Research and Development at the Schering Corporation, and as the Director of Research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.[2]

Harry Merwyn Weaver
BornMarch 20, 1909
Lancaster, Ohio
DiedSeptember 12, 1977 (age 68)
San Clemente, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOhio State University
Known forResearch into polio immunization
Scientific career
FieldsVirologist
InstitutionsNational Foundation for Infantile Paralysis

Weaver was born in Lancaster, Ohio in 1909 and died at his home in San Clemente, California, age 68.

Career, 1946 to 1977

Contributions to polio vaccine

The polio vaccine was discovered and developed by Jonas Salk between 1952 and 1955. Weaver, acting as the Director of Research at the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, now known as the March of Dimes, from 1946 to 1953, supported Salk's work with a sense of urgency for the development of the Polio vaccine.[3][4] Weaver's urgency for developing a vaccine as quickly as possible was somewhat counter to the development of the Oral polio vaccine by Albert Sabin between 1954 and 1961.[5] However, his support of Salk's vaccine was considered to be paramount to the early end of the polio epidemic. Weaver dedicated his time and research into finding the main source of polio in order to develop a vaccine that would put an end to the disease. He planned out a way to get grants and broke it down into simple formula of how funding would work. His success was due to his organized approach to funding and his use of applied science to address the challenge.[6]

Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award

After many years of dedication to research of MS treatment and strong support for recruiting young investigators, Dr. Weaver's accomplishments were honored by the NMSS through the awarding of the Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award. This award is offered to researchers who have completed their MS training and are beginning their work in MS research. The award includes salary and research funding for a period of five years and is commonly given through universities.

Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation: Award Jury Member

Weaver was a member of the Jury of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation for the 1957 Lasker Award.

References
  1. California, Death Index, 1940-1997
  2. "Obituary: Dr. Harry M. Weaver, 68, Aide of Sclerosis Group". The New York Times. September 14, 1977. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  3. lnorkin2013 (2014-06-02). "The Politics of Science: Vignettes Featuring Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus during his Tenure as Director of the NIH". Leonard Norkin Virology Site. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  4. lnorkin2013 (2014-03-27). "Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin: One of the Great Rivalries of Medical Science". Leonard Norkin Virology Site. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  5. Sabin, Albert B. (2015-01-07). "Role of My Cooperation with Soviet Scientists in the Elimination of Polio: Possible Lessons for Relations between the U.S.A. and the USSR". Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. 31 (1): 57–64. doi:10.1353/pbm.1987.0023. ISSN 1529-8795. PMID 3696960. S2CID 45655185.
  6. Oshinsky, David M. (2005). Polio : an American story. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515294-8. OCLC 56834404.
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