Harold E. Varmus

Harold Eliot Varmus was born on December 18, 1939, in Oceanside, New York, United States. He would grow up to become a prominent figure in the field of molecular biology due to his groundbreaking research on oncogenes, which are genes that can transform a cell into a tumor cell, thus contributing significantly to our understanding of cancer biology.

In June 1974, Harold Varmus, along with his colleague J. Michael Bishop, discovered the first of the oncogenes. This groundbreaking discovery demonstrated that cancer genes are derived from normal cellular genes and suggested a new approach for cancer research, leading to numerous subsequent discoveries in the field of molecular oncology.

Harold Varmus was elected to the National Academy of Sciences on May 15, 1984, in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of genetics and cancer research. His election to this prestigious body highlighted his influence and leadership in the scientific community, particularly in advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of cancer.

In 1989, Harold E. Varmus, along with J. Michael Bishop, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of the cellular origin of retroviral oncogenes. This work illuminated the genetic origins of cancer and showed that these oncogenes were related to proto-oncogenes present in normal cells, contributing vastly to cancer research.

On December 13, 1993, Harold E. Varmus, along with Robert Weinberg, published 'Genes and the Biology of Cancer.' This book served as a comprehensive introduction to the molecular foundations of cancer biology, explaining the role of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in the process of carcinogenesis.

On November 20, 1995, under the advocacy of Harold Varmus, the PubMed Central digital archive was launched. This repository was part of Varmus's efforts to promote free and open access to scientific research papers, allowing researchers worldwide to access published research without subscription barriers.

Harold Varmus was appointed as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in January 2000, a position he held until December 31, 1999. During his tenure, he attempted to expand funding for biomedical research and was known for promoting open access to scientific literature, which included developing the PubMed Central database to provide free access to published articles.

On July 12, 2010, Harold E. Varmus took office as the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where he served until 2015. His leadership in NCI saw efforts to advance cancer research with innovative programs designed to enhance the understanding and treatment of cancer, driving forward initiatives like The Cancer Genome Atlas.

On August 18, 2011, Harold E. Varmus was awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists. This award recognized his exceptional contributions to advancing the understanding of the biology of cancer and his efforts in public service, particularly his advocacy for open access to scientific information.

Harold Varmus announced on March 30, 2015, that he would be stepping down as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to focus on scientific research and writing. After five years of leadership, his departure marked the end of a significant era in which he had overseen numerous advancements in cancer research and maintained a strong commitment to public service.