Richard Shope

Richard Edwin Shope (December 25, 1901 – October 2, 1966) was an American virologist who, together with his mentor Paul A. Lewis at the Rockefeller Institute, identified influenzavirus A in pigs in 1931.[1] Using Shope's technique, Smith, Andrewes, and Laidlaw of England's Medical Research Council cultured it from a human in 1933.[1] They and Shope in 1935 and 1936, respectively, identified it as the virus circulating in the 1918 pandemic.[1] In 1933, Shope identified the Shope papillomavirus, which infects rabbits. It was the first human virus discovered.[2][3] His discovery later assist other researcher to link the papilloma virus to warts and cervical cancer. He received the 1957 Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award.[4]

Richard Edwin Shope
Richard Edwin Shope as a U.S. Navy officer
Born	(1901-12-25)December 25, 1901 Des Moines, Iowa
Died	October 2, 1966(1966-10-02) (aged 64)
Nationality	American
Citizenship	United States
Alma mater	University of Iowa
Known for	Identified Shope papilloma virus and main cause of 1918 pandemic as Influenza A virus
Spouse(s)	Helen Ellis
Children	4
Awards	1957 Kober medal 1957 Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award U.S. Army Legion of Merit
Scientific career
Fields	Virologist
Institutions	Rockefeller University National Naval Medical Center
Academic advisors	Dr. Paul Lewis
Influenced	Erich Traub

His son Robert Shope was also a virologist, who specialised in arthropod-borne viruses.[5]