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Home , Richard Shope, Robert Shope, Stephen Straus

IN MEMORIAM

Robert Ellis Shope his own laboratory productive—his national Program in its laborato- research was funded continuously by ry in Belem, Brazil (now the Instituto the National Institutes of Health Evandro Chagas). There he remained (NIH) for 26 years. for 6 years, eventually serving as Arguably, Bob’s most important director of that institute. This was a contribution was his co-chairing, time of great excitement and discov- along with and ery, as many new were being Stanley Oaks, of the Institute of isolated and characterized. In 1965, Medicine Committee on Emerging Bob returned from Brazil to Yale, Microbial Threats to Health. The pro- where most of the senior staff of the ceedings of this committee led to the ’s overseas publication in 1992 of Emerging virus program had relocated and were Infections: Microbial Threats to establishing the Yale Health in the (National Research Unit (YARU). Bob 1929–2004 Academy Press). This seminal publi- remained at Yale for 30 years, rising cation, which outlined factors impli- to the rank of professor and director of obert Ellis Shope, one of the cated in the emergence of infectious that research unit. Rworld’s most distinguished diseases and the programs and In 1995, Bob moved to the arbovirologists and a dear friend of resources needed to cope with them, University of Medical Branch many colleagues around the world, initiated much of the current world- in Galveston, where he held several died of complications of idiopathic wide interest in infectious diseases. appointments: professor (Department pulmonary fibrosis in Galveston, He then spent endless days explaining of Pathology, Department of Texas, on January 19, 2004, at age 74. the concepts underpinning the report Microbiology and , Bob is survived by his wife, Virginia; in order to gain public and political Department of Preventive Medicine his daughters, Deborah Shope and support. His efforts were marked by and Community Health), associate Bonnie (Shope) Rice; his sons, Peter great success, as evidenced by the director of the university’s Center for and Steve; his brothers, Thomas and revitalized state of the infectious dis- Biodefense (and John S. Dunn Richard; his sister, Nancy (Shope) ease sciences today. Distinguished Chair in Biodefense), FitzGerrell; and six grandchildren. Bob was born in Princeton, New and member (Sealy Center for It is difficult to describe Bob’s Jersey, the son of , an Environmental Health & Medicine, many contributions to , epi- internationally renowned virologist. Sealy Center for , demiology, tropical medicine, infec- He received BA and MD degrees from and World Health Organization tious disease sciences, biology, and completed an [WHO] Collaborating Center for and international internship in internal medicine at Tropical Diseases). because they are so numerous and Grace-New Haven Hospital (Yale At various times throughout his varied. His lifelong contributions to University School of Medicine). He long career, Bob served as president our understanding of -borne then spent 3 years in the U.S. Army and councilor, American Society of viruses, hemorrhagic fever viruses, Medical Corps, where he was initially Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; chair and the diseases these viruses cause assigned to Camp Detrick (now the and member, Advisory Council, are without equal. He discovered and U.S. Army Medical Research Institute James A. Baker Institute for Animal characterized more previously for Infectious Diseases) and later to Health, Cornell University; member, unknown viruses than any other per- the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit WHO Expert Panel on Virus Diseases, son in history. Working at various in Kuala Lumpur. The latter experi- and member U.S. Delegation to the times in nearly every country where ence, involving studies on the etiolo- U.S.–Japan Cooperative Medical these viruses and diseases are impor- gy of fevers of unknown origin among Science Program, International tant, he collaborated with virtually British soldiers and the local Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses everyone who has worked in these Malaysian civilian population, had a (ICTV), Armed Forces fields in the past 50 years. Until his profound effect on his subsequent Board, Advisory Board of the Fogarty death, he remained an international research interests and career deci- International Center, National leader in framing the global response sions. After starting a residency in Institutes of Health, Institute of to emerging and reemerging diseases internal medicine at Yale, he left to Medicine Committee on Improving and our national response to bioterror- take a staff position with the Civilian Medical Response to ism, while at the same time keeping Rockefeller Foundation’s Inter- Chemical and Biological Terrorism

762 Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2004 IN MEMORIAM

Incidents, Advisory Committee acterized more than 50 tropical the genus Hantavirus, family (American Museum of Natural , most of which were new Bunyaviridae, was not isolated until History Infectious Disease Exhi- to science. Several, such as group C 1976). bition), Advisory Panel (National and Guama viruses, caused human In 1977, Bob identified a virus iso- Research Council Program on disease. Not only did he play a role in lated from a mixed pool of midges Strategies to Protect the Health of isolating and characterizing these (culicoids) collected near Darwin, Deployed U.S. Forces), and the agents and their diseases, but his team Australia, and sent to him by Toby St. National Research Council was instrumental in studying and George. Bob identified it as blue- Committee on Climate, Ecosystems, understanding the role of their forest tongue 20 virus, the first bluetongue Infectious Diseases, and Human reservoirs. He refined the capture- virus recognized in Australia. This Health. mark-release-recapture technology discovery caused economic turmoil in Over the years, Bob earned many for , , and birds, and the Australian livestock industry, but honors, including the Bailey K. applied these methods to the Amazon it was seminal in initiating an inten- Ashford Award from the American fauna. His team also correlated verte- sive research program in that country. Society of Tropical Medicine and brate reservoir with that of That same year, Bob and Jim Meegan Hygiene, the Richard M. Taylor vector mosquitoes. He identified identified virus as Award from the American Committee Oropouche virus when the first epi- the cause of a “virgin soil” epidemic of Arthropod-Borne Viruses, and the demic struck the city of Belem. This in Egypt that affected 200,000 people, Walter Reed Medal from the disease has since emerged as a major with more than 600 human deaths, American Society of Tropical scourge, not only in the Brazilian and hundreds of thousands of sheep Medicine and Hygiene. Amazon, but also in cities in Panama and cattle deaths. Also noteworthy is In November 2003, the University and Peru. that in 1977, Bob co-authored the first of Texas Medical Branch celebrated During his early tenure at the Yale description of in the the completion of a biosafety level 4 Arbovirus Research Unit, Bob was United States. This work was done laboratory, the first in the United involved in a collaborative project with Allan Steere, then a young States at an academic institution. In with the Smithsonian Institution and rheumatologist at Yale. Lyme disease Bob’s honor, the laboratory was discovered several new arboviruses was subsequently recognized as the named “The Robert E. Shope, M.D. transported by birds migrating most important -borne disease in Laboratory.” Also in his honor, the through the Nile Delta. Then, in 1969, North America. university established the Robert E. and emerged Throughout the most recent 20 Shope, M.D. Memorial Fellowship in in Nigeria and occupied his research years, Bob and his colleagues, espe- emerging viral diseases research. for several years. cially Bob Tesh, continued to discov- Bob was first to show that rabies er new, important viruses. These Professional Odyssey virus was related to other viruses (the included Sabiá, the cause of Brazilian Bob’s first assignment with the “rabies-related viruses”); in 1970, hemorrhagic fever, and Guanarito, the Rockefeller Foundation in New York with Fred Murphy and others, he cause of Venezuelan hemorrhagic in 1954 was to study the etiology of characterized Mokola, Lagos bat, and fever. Bob also worked to develop an “epidemic polyarthritis,” a disease Duvenhage viruses, the founding attenuated-live virus for characterized by fever, arthralgia, and members (along with rabies virus) of dengue and chaired the WHO adviso- rash that occurred mainly during the the genus , family ry committee on dengue vaccine summer in coastal regions of Rhabdoviridae. In 1971, Bob, Fred development. Australia. In a classic retrospective Murphy, and Ernie Borden character- After moving to the University of serologic investigation, he and S.G. ized many bluetongue-like viruses Texas Medical Branch in 1995, Bob Anderson demonstrated that the dis- and established the genus , embarked on a new phase of his ease was caused by an . Ten family Reoviridae. In 1971, Bob career; he and his colleagues initiated years later, Australian scientists, led coauthored an obscure paper in the a new program on coun- by Ralph Doherty and Ian Marshall, Indian Journal of Medical Research termeasures, centered on novel antivi- isolated and con- describing Thottapalayam virus, a ral drugs against alphavirus, fla- firmed its association with epidemic presumed arbovirus isolated from a vivirus, and diseases. At polyarthritis. shrew in India. Thottapalayam virus the same time, along with Bob Tesh, In the early 1960s, during Bob’s was subsequently shown to be a han- Bob brought the World Reference tenure at what is now the Instituto tavirus, the first hantavirus to be iso- Center for Emerging Viruses and Evandro Chagas, he isolated and char- lated (Hantaan virus, the type virus of Arboviruses to the university—this is

Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2004 763 IN MEMORIAM one of the most valuable virus collec- he was a frequent advisor to the NIH, Knudson, Barry Miller, Thomas tions in the world, comprising >4,000 Centers for Disease Control and Schwann, Thomas Scott, Mark arthropod-borne virus strains and Prevention, Department of Defense, Wilson, and others. During his tenure >1,000 other virus strains. U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. at the University of Texas Medical Agency for International Develop- Branch, he worked closely with Dave Scientific Legacy ment, the Institute of Medicine, and Walker, Bob Tesh, C.J. Peters, Stan In addition to the many scientific the American Type Culture Lemon, Scott Weaver, Alan Barrett, contributions already mentioned, Bob Collection. He was also a frequent Judith Aronson, Chuck Fulhorst, wrote and edited more than 170 refer- consultant to WHO and the Pan Norb Herzog, Steve Higgs, Peter eed papers and more than 90 books, American Health Organization, as Mason, Doug Watts, Larry Stanberry, chapters, and monographs. Most well as to foreign governments. and others. But, such lists are folly— notable of his editorial activities was Bob’s true legacy as a colleague and his contribution to several editions of Legacy as a Teacher friend would require a list of hun- the definitive reference book in virol- and Mentor dreds of names, from across the years ogy, Fields Virology (Bernard N. Bob was an outstanding, devoted, and around the world. It would be Fields, editor; David Knipe, Robert and beloved teacher. He cared deeply wonderful to append such a list here, Chanock, Joseph Melnick, Bernard about the next generation of profes- but it would be suspect in its likely Roizman, , Martin sionals entering the various fields of omissions. Hirsch, Thomas Monath, Peter the clinical infectious disease sci- The essence of Bob’s legacy as a Howley, and Stephen Straus, co-edi- ences, virology, vector biology, epi- colleague and friend is the most diffi- tors; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). demiology, and public health. His cult matter to capture here. After his Bob’s oral contributions are honesty, humility, enthusiasm, and death, condolences to his colleagues legion. Over the years, he presented caring manner endeared him to his and family contained oft-repeated many hundreds of seminars, lectures, students. He treated everyone with themes: and workshops throughout the world, respect and was never too busy to “He was the nicest, humblest, most but he never kept track of them. One meet with a student or to offer guid- self-effacing, and obliging person I can only guess at the numbers, but it ance. But there was more; there was a have ever known…” is easy to recall their overall impact in kind of magic in his “touch” as “He was unfailingly kind and gen- many disciplines of medical science. teacher and mentor. For example, Bob erous…” participated for many years in the “He was always collegial with col- Legacy as a National Cornell Summer Leadership Program, laborators and endlessly patient with and International Advisor run lovingly by Doug McGregor. At students; it is not surprising that he and Consultant the end of a day spent in workshops, earned both the respect and love of Bob served the national and inter- the students would gather in a lounge both…” national interests of science in many for a beer and informal discussion “He consistently exemplified and ways—he was an outstanding with the faculty. Within minutes, other fostered an attitude of service…” spokesman, always willing to take guest faculty members were forgotten “He always made time for you, extra time and effort to “educate” as the students zeroed in on Bob— whether you were a student or the politicians and science leaders. He did they instinctively knew that he was minister of health…” this at an ever-higher level of impact: the utmost rolemodel, an inspiration “He was always reassuring, upbeat in 1997 Bob was invited to the White in deciding career directions. and helpful…” House along with six other scientists, “He was an exceptionally gener- three of them Nobel laureates, to brief Legacy as a Colleague ous person, and that tended to rub off President , Vice President and Friend on others…” , and others on the perils of Over the years, Bob worked with “His enthusiasm and love for his global warming and its importance in many prominent arbovirologists and chosen field were as infectious as the the spread of infectious agents, such vector biologists, including, in his viruses he studied…” as those causing dengue and dengue tenure at Yale, Tommy Aitken, John “Those of us who knew him and hemorrhagic fever, , and many Anderson, Sonia Buckley, Jordi worked with him were very fortu- other arthropod-borne diseases. Casals, Delphine Clarke, Wilbur nate…” Bob served as consultant and advi- Downs, Max Theiler, Loring “He was a catalyst of honesty, pro- sor to many national and international Whitman, Jack Woodall, Barry Beaty, fessionalism, and mutual respect….” organizations. Throughout his career Rebecca Rico-Hesse, Dennis

764 Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2004 IN MEMORIAM

“We all benefited from his exam- ory of their first experience with Bob. Does all this capture Bob Shope, ple…” Two messages, anonymously para- the man, the friend that we have lost? “He was the best listener in the phrased here, are exemplary. First, If not, then words cannot serve what world…” “…In the 1970s I went to YARU with memories can. To say that Bob will be “He always acted in the best inter- a few viruses that had been brought missed is the greatest of understate- ests of others, truly practicing the back from Kenya and couldn’t be ments—he will never be forgotten. He golden rule of treating others as he identified. I was new to the field and leaves to us a legacy of enthusiastic would wish to be treated…” had little clue how to go about deter- commitment to his science and an “We were blessed to have had him mining what these viruses were. But I equal commitment to the application as a colleague...” had landed in the World Reference of that science for the benefit of the Center! Bob took me under his wing. people of the world. As well, he He showed me the reference collec- leaves to us, by the example of his Running through these messages is tion, inventoried on a huge Rolodex. life, a definition of our sense of com- the understanding that the field of We talked about the possibilities munity and the keys to its nurturing. arbovirology and related sciences has based on the source of the unknown been incredibly satisfying to the viruses. Bob stayed with me until 10 involved community because of the Respectfully submitted on behalf of p.m. developing a testing plan, and warmth of personal relationships and the world’s community of virologists, then drove me to my hotel. My head the high ethical standard shared by especially the community of arbovirolo- was spinning. YARU was a busy place one and all. In these messages, it is gists, and there were many other much more clear that everyone knew that Bob important visitors, but Bob worked was the “keeper of the flame,” the closely with me over the week until Frederick A. Murphy,* exemplar, the strong positive influ- we had identified all of the viruses. Charles H. Calisher,† ence on everyone in this community. The result was one of my first publi- Robert B. Tesh,‡ This was not a passive matter—in the cations in arbovirology…” and David H. Walker‡ most subtle way Bob vaccinated oth- Second, “…I well remember as a *University of California – Davis, Davis, ers with his high ethical standard— young nobody from the outback of California, USA; †Colorado State magic, again! University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Africa arriving to consult with Bob at The messages received in and ‡The University of Texas Medical YARU in 1975. I wanted some refer- Galveston upon Bob’s death capture Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA ence arbovirus reagents to take home another theme, one based in each per- with me, and having just met me, Bob Address for correspondence: Frederick A. son’s memories of his or her earliest worked with me late into the evening, Murphy, School of Veterinary Medicine, days in the world of medical research freeze-drying viruses and antigens so University of California – Davis, Davis, CA and public service. It seems that that I could leave with them on the 95616, USA; fax: 530-752-2801; email: many, many people have a clear mem- following day…” famurphy@ ucdavis.edu

Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2004 765