Stanley Prusiner
Born 1942 · Age 83
American neurologist and biochemist who discovered prions; director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases at UCSF; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1997.
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Life & Career Timeline
Family moves due to father's Navy service
Soon after his birth his father Lawrence was drafted into the U.S. Navy and the family temporarily relocated (Boston training; mother lived in Cincinnati).
Born in Des Moines, Iowa
Stanley Ben Prusiner born to Miriam (Spigel) and Lawrence Prusiner in Des Moines, Iowa.
Family relocates to Cincinnati
Prusiner's family moved back to Cincinnati where his father established an architecture practice.
Enrolled at University of Pennsylvania
Accepted by the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate, where he majored in chemistry.
Undergraduate research on hypothermia
Began a summer research project on hypothermia with Sidney Wolfson in Penn's Department of Surgery that continued into his senior year.
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry (University of Pennsylvania)
Graduated with an A.B. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania.
Research at Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm
Spent much of his fourth year of medical school working with Olov Lindberg on metabolism of isolated brown adipocytes; research influenced decision to pursue biomedical research.
Received M.D. from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Completed medical degree (M.D.) at University of Pennsylvania (class year 1968).
Internship in medicine at UCSF
Completed an internship in medicine at the University of California, San Francisco; met his future wife, Sandy Turk, while living in San Francisco.
Joined NIH — Earl Stadtman lab
Accepted position at the National Institutes of Health and worked in Earl Stadtman's laboratory studying glutaminases in E. coli; spent three years at NIH (critical scientific training).
Started neurology residency at UCSF
Began residency in Neurology at UCSF in the Department of Neurology.
Admitted patient with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
Two months into residency he admitted a female patient who died of CJD; this case sparked his long-term interest in slow virus/prion diseases.
Appointed assistant professor, UCSF Neurology
Accepted an assistant professorship from Robert Fishman and set up a laboratory to study scrapie.
Named Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator (approx.)
Served as an HHMI investigator (AAI notes HHMI investigator 1976–1981); HHMI provided early support but later did not renew funding.
Collaboration with William Hadlow and Carl Eklund
Collaborated with Hadlow and Eklund at Rocky Mountain Laboratory to learn about scrapie and initiate sedimentation behavior studies of the agent.
Received private funding from R. J. Reynolds (approx.)
After HHMI non-renewal and tenure uncertainty, obtained larger private funding from R.J. Reynolds via programs administered by Fred Seitz and Maclyn McCarty to support animal infrastructure.
Received Sherman Fairchild Foundation support (approx.)
Soon after R.J. Reynolds funding he received support from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation (Walter Burke) to fund large-scale animal experiments.
Produced infectious prion preparation from hamster brain
After ~10 years of work produced a preparation from hamster brain containing an infectious agent comprised primarily of protein.
Published seminal Science paper introducing 'prion'
Published 'Novel proteinaceous infectious particles cause scrapie' (Science, 1982), introduced the term 'prion' and proposed protein-only infectious agents; set off major controversy.
Sustained lumbar disc herniation and laminectomy
Herniated a lumbar disc while skiing in winter 1983 and underwent laminectomy, causing a slowed pace of work.
Prion protein identified in his laboratory (approx.)
Just prior to his back problem the protein of the prion was found in his laboratory; this finding enabled subsequent sequencing and molecular studies.
Portion of prion amino acid sequence determined by Leroy Hood (approx.)
Following identification of the prion protein, Leroy Hood determined a portion of its amino acid sequence, enabling molecular cloning and follow-up studies.
Produced antibodies and discovered normal PrP form (mid-1980s)
Antibodies to prion protein were produced enabling discovery of the normal cellular PrP (PrPc) and study of pathogenesis in transgenic mice.
Collaborated on molecular cloning of PrP gene
Collaborated with Charles Weissmann and others on molecular cloning of the gene encoding prion protein (PrP), linking genetics to disease.
Discovery: PrP gene mutation causes familial disease (Karen Hsiao)
In Prusiner's lab, Karen Hsiao discovered a mutation in the PrP gene causing familial prion disease and reproduced it in transgenic mice.
Prion concept gains wider scientific acceptance
By the early 1990s, many in the scientific community accepted the existence of prions, though molecular conversion mechanisms remained unclear.
Elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his prion research.
Multiple major awards (1993)
Received Dickson Prize, Richard Lounsbery Award, and Gairdner Foundation International Award (all 1993) for contributions to biology/medicine.
Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award
Awarded the Lasker Award for landmark work establishing prions as a new class of infectious agents.
Wolf Prize in Medicine and other honors (1996)
Received the Wolf Prize in Medicine, Keio Medical Science Prize, Grand Prix Charles-Leopold Mayer, and Golden Plate Award in 1996.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Received the Nobel Prize for discovery of prions, a new biological principle of infection (shared recognition of work on scrapie, CJD, BSE).
Elected Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMemRS)
Elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society in recognition of his scientific contributions.
Elected to American Philosophical Society; Benjamin Franklin Medal (1998)
Elected to the APS and received the Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Franklin Institute.
Director, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (UCSF)
Became director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases at UCSF (position held since 1999).
Founded InPro Biotechnology, Inc.
Founded InPro Biotechnology to develop and commercialize discoveries from his UCSF laboratory (test technologies for BSE, CJD, CWD).
Published 'Prion Biology and Diseases' (book)
Authored/edited the book 'Prion Biology and Diseases' (Cold Spring Harbor), consolidating decades of prion research.
Prions' role in spread of BSE clarified (team progress)
Prusiner and his team made significant headway in identifying prions' role in the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), helping quell critics.
Honorary Doctorate from CEU Cardinal Herrera University
Received an honorary doctorate from CEU Cardinal Herrera University.
Elected to governing council of the National Academy of Sciences
Elected to the NAS governing council in recognition of his leadership in science.
Awarded the U.S. National Medal of Science
Received the National Medal of Science from the U.S. government for contributions to science and medicine.
Helped establish UCSF Mission Bay neuroscience building
Played a major role in development of the 400,000 sq ft Sandler Neurosciences Center / Mission Bay complex where his institute is housed (opened 2012).
Published 'Madness and Memory: The Discovery of Prions'
Authored a book recounting the discovery of prions and his scientific career (Yale University Press, 2014).
Reported alpha-synuclein prions causing multiple system atrophy (PNAS paper)
Prusiner coauthored a PNAS paper presenting evidence for alpha-synuclein prions in multiple system atrophy; later corrections to figure(s) were reported.
Reported correction to PNAS paper (image duplication)
Co-authors and journals subsequently reported a correction of an image duplication in the 2015 PNAS paper (public discussion and correction process).
Continued directorship and active research at UCSF IND
Remained director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and continued research into prions, Alzheimer's, synucleinopathies and tauopathies.
Listed as UCSF and Nobel laureate profile updates
Profiles (UCSF/Nobel/Wikipedia/Biography sites) updated reflecting ongoing activity and honors; remains an active figure in neuroscience.
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