In 1970, Varmus shifted his focus from clinical work to biomedical research. He joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he eventually became a senior professor. Alongside his colleague J. Michael Bishop, he conducted groundbreaking research on the genetic origins of cancer. Their work led to the discovery of proto-oncogenes—normal cellular genes that can become cancerous when mutated. Specifically, they identified the cellular gene c-src, which can mutate into v-src, an oncogene responsible for causing cancer.
For this pioneering research, Varmus and Bishop were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1989. This discovery laid the foundation for targeted cancer therapies that aim to interrupt the genetic mechanisms behind cancer development.
Beyond the Nobel Prize, Varmus has received numerous accolades for his scientific contributions. In 1982, he and Bishop were honored with the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research. Nearly two decades later, in 2001, he received the Vannevar Bush Award for leadership in science and technology.
Harold Varmus married Constance Louise Casey, a journalist and book critic, in 1969. The couple met at a social event and quickly formed a close bond, leading to their marriage after a short courtship. Together, they have two children. Although his net worth has been estimated at around $50 million, Varmus maintains a relatively private lifestyle. He is not active on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, stating that email suffices for his communication needs.
Return to the previous page| Birth Date: | 18 Dec, 1939 |
| Age: | 80 yrs |
| Occupations: | Virologist Physician |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Oceanside |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American scientist |
