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Hospital / Health Care
The AAAS, founded in 1848, is the largest international organization of scientists dedicated to advancing many fields of science around the world. Since 1874, the AAAS has recognized Fellows each year who are “scientifically and socially distinguished.” Dr. Wimmer achieved the rank of Fellow for his vast work for decades on the poliovirus, which included the elucidation of the chemical structure of the poliovirus genome in the late 1970s. This discovery and subsequent ones focusing primarily on poliovirus have been landmark achievements and have served to stimulate international research in virology and cell biology. “The work that Dr. Wimmer has achieved in virology and related fields is nothing short of astounding,” says Jorge L. Benach, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University. “His work has enriched our department and entire University research initiative for 35 years. By being named a Fellow of the AAAS, he brings honor to our University.” Dr. Wimmer’s other major discoveries include publishing (1991) the first de novo, cell-free synthesis of a virus (poliovirus), which greatly stimulated studies of viral application in general. After that he co-discovered the poliovirus receptor CD155, a cell-adhesion molecule and tumor antigen that suggests a new mechanism in poliovirus pathogenesis. This research led to Dr. Wimmer and colleagues making worldwide news in 2002, as they were the first to synthesize in the test tube a virus (poliovirus) in absence of the natural template. This discovery led to studying the structure and function of a virus to an extent not possible before. “All of this work will likely lead to a better understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of viruses, as well as the development of novel antiviral vaccines,” says Dr. Wimmer. “My current research focus is on the elucidation of the mechanisms by which human pathogenic viruses proliferate, and researching novel strategies to develop vaccine candidates against human pathogenic viruses.” Dr. Wimmer heads a laboratory in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology with Aniko Paul, Ph.D., a Research Associate Professor. Their research includes studies of several viruses other than poliovirus. The lab is also devoted to the education of students and postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Wimmer lives in Setauket, N.Y., with his wife, Dr. Astrid Wimmer.
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