Michael Bishop (born 1936) is an American immunologist and virologist renowned for his pioneering research on the genetic basis of cancer. Born in Pennsylvania, Bishop earned his medical degree from Harvard University before pursuing a career in scientific research.

Bishop, along with Harold Varmus, conducted groundbreaking experiments in the 1970s that led to the discovery of proto-oncogenes, normal genes involved in cell growth and differentiation. They demonstrated that certain oncogenes, when mutated or activated, could contribute to the development of cancer.

This work revolutionized the understanding of cancer genetics and provided crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development. For their discoveries, Bishop and Varmus were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1989.

Bishop’s research laid the foundation for subsequent studies on cancer biology and paved the way for the development of targeted cancer therapies aimed at disrupting specific oncogenic pathways. His contributions have had a profound impact on the field of oncology, saving countless lives through improved diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Michael Bishop Quotes

1. “Science now finds itself in paradoxical strife with society: admired but mistrusted; offering hope for the future but creating ambiguous choice; richly supported yet unable to fulfill all its promise; boasting remarkable advances but criticized for not serving more directly the goals of society.”
— J. Michael Bishop

2. “The modern research laboratory can be a large and complicated social organism.”
— J. Michael Bishop