Robert R. Redfield
Encyclopedia
Robert R. Redfield Jr. is an American virologist, a professor of Medicine
at University of Maryland, Baltimore
and a co-founder and associate director of the Institute of Human Virology
(IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Redfield is known for his pioneering contributions in clinical research
, and in particular for his extensive research into the virology
and therapeutic treatments of HIV
infection and AIDS
. During the 1980s in the early years of investigation into the AIDS pandemic
Redfield led the research that was the first to conclusively demonstrate that the HIV retrovirus
could be heterosexually
transmitted. He also developed the staging system now in use worldwide for the clinical assessment of HIV infection.
Redfield's parents were both scientists at the National Institutes of Health
, and Redfield's career in medical research was influenced by this background. At college Redfield gained experience working in laboratories at Columbia University
where the involvement of retroviruses in human disease was investigated.
As an undergraduate Redfield attended Georgetown University
, obtaining a B.S.
from the university's College of Arts and Sciences
in 1973. He then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine
, and was awarded his M.D. in 1977. Redfield's medical residency was undertaken at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center
(WRAMC) in Washington, D.C.
, where he completed his postgraduate medical training and internships in internal medicine
(1978–1980). By 1982 at WRAMC Redfield had completed clinical and research fellowships in infectious disease
s and tropical medicine
. Redfield continued as a U.S. Army physician and medical researcher at the WRAMC for the next decade, working in the fields of virology, immunology
and clinical research
. During this period he collaborated with numerous teams at the forefront of AIDS research, publishing several key papers and was a strong and innovative advocate for strategies to translate knowledge gained from clinical studies to the practical treatment of patients afflicted by chronic viral diseases.
Redfield retired from WRAMC in 1995, to concentrate on setting up a multidisciplinary research organization dedicated to developing research and treatment programs for chronic human viral infection and disease. To this end, in 1996 Redfield co-founded the Institute of Human Virology based at Maryland, together with his HIV research colleagues Dr. Robert Gallo
, the co-discoverer of the HIV retrovirus, and noted viral epidemiologist Dr. William Blattner.
Recognition awards acquired over the course of his research career include an honorary degree
from the New York Medical College
, a lifetime services award from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Immunology and Aging, and the Surgeon General
's Physician Recognition Award.
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
and a co-founder and associate director of the Institute of Human Virology
Institute of Human Virology
The Institute of Human Virology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine is a center in Baltimore City focusing on chronic viral diseases, most notably HIV/AIDS, and virally linked cancers...
(IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Redfield is known for his pioneering contributions in clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
, and in particular for his extensive research into the virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
and therapeutic treatments of 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...
infection and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. During the 1980s in the early years of investigation into the AIDS pandemic
AIDS pandemic
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome pandemic is a widespread disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus .Since AIDS was first recognized in 1981, it has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive diseases in recorded history.Despite recent...
Redfield led the research that was the first to conclusively demonstrate that the HIV retrovirus
Retrovirus
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...
could be heterosexually
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...
transmitted. He also developed the staging system now in use worldwide for the clinical assessment of HIV infection.
Redfield's parents were both scientists at the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
, and Redfield's career in medical research was influenced by this background. At college Redfield gained experience working in laboratories at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
where the involvement of retroviruses in human disease was investigated.
As an undergraduate Redfield attended Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, obtaining a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the university's College of Arts and Sciences
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
in 1973. He then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine, a medical school opened in 1851, is one of Georgetown University's five graduate schools. It is located on Reservoir Road in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, adjacent to the University's main campus...
, and was awarded his M.D. in 1977. Redfield's medical residency was undertaken at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
(WRAMC) in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he completed his postgraduate medical training and internships in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
(1978–1980). By 1982 at WRAMC Redfield had completed clinical and research fellowships in infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
s and tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
. Redfield continued as a U.S. Army physician and medical researcher at the WRAMC for the next decade, working in the fields of virology, immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
and clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
. During this period he collaborated with numerous teams at the forefront of AIDS research, publishing several key papers and was a strong and innovative advocate for strategies to translate knowledge gained from clinical studies to the practical treatment of patients afflicted by chronic viral diseases.
Redfield retired from WRAMC in 1995, to concentrate on setting up a multidisciplinary research organization dedicated to developing research and treatment programs for chronic human viral infection and disease. To this end, in 1996 Redfield co-founded the Institute of Human Virology based at Maryland, together with his HIV research colleagues Dr. Robert Gallo
Robert Gallo
Robert Charles Gallo is an American biomedical researcher. He is best known for his role in the discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus , the infectious agent responsible for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , and he has been a major contributor to subsequent HIV research.Gallo is the...
, the co-discoverer of the HIV retrovirus, and noted viral epidemiologist Dr. William Blattner.
Recognition awards acquired over the course of his research career include an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
, a lifetime services award from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Immunology and Aging, and the Surgeon General
Surgeon General of the United States
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government...
's Physician Recognition Award.
External links
- faculty profile, University of Maryland School of Medicine