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Francis V. Chisari, MD is Professor of Virology and Head of the Division of Experimental Pathology at The Scripps Research Institute where he has studied the host-virus interactions that determine the outcome of hepatitis B and C virus infections since 1975. In the course of those studies, he defined the immunological basis for viral clearance and disease pathogenesis during HBV and HCV infection, he discovered that cytolytic T cells produce antiviral cytokines that can purge these viruses from infected cells without killing them, and he demonstrated that immune-mediated liver injury underlies the development of HBV- and HCV-induced liver cancer. He has recently developed a robust in vitro infection system for HCV which will facilitate the discovery of new antiviral drugs for this infection In recognition of his scientific contributions, Dr. Chisari has received many honors and awards including election to fellowship in the American Association of for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Microbiology, and membership in the Association of American Physicians, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Medicine. | 