Baruj Benacerraf - Medical Scientists, Family and Childhood
Home › Venezuelan › Baruj BenacerrafOctober 29, 1920498 viewsBaruj Benacerraf's Personal Details
Baruj Benacerraf was a Venezuelan-born American immunologist who was one of the co-recipients of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | October 29, 1920 |
| Died on | August 2, 2011 |
| Nationality | Venezuelan |
| Famous | Scientists, Immunologists, Medical Scientists |
| Spouses | Annette Benacerraf |
| Siblings | Paul Benacerraf |
| Childrens | Beryl Rica Benacerraf |
| Birth Place | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Abraham Benacerraf |
| Mother | Henrietta Lasry |
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Born in | Caracas, Venezuela |
| Famous as | Immunologist |
| Died at Age | 90 |
// Famous Immunologists
Georges J. F. Kohler
Georges J. F. Kohler was a German immunologist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984. Check this biography to get details about his life, profile and timeline.
Cesar Milstein
Cesar Milstein was an Argentinian biochemist who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of monoclonal antibody. Explore this biography to get details about his life, career and scientific discoveries.
Susumu Tonegawa
Susumu Tonegawa is a Japanese molecular biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1987. This biography of Susumu Tonegawa provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Baruj Benacerraf's photo
Who is Baruj Benacerraf?
Baruj Benacerraf was a Venezuelan-born American immunologist who was one of the co-recipients of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His most significant contribution is the identification of gene groups called ‘major histocompatibility complexes’ and understanding their capacity to control immune responses. Though born into a family with a business background, he was interested in pursuing science and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Science from Columbia University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He served in the US Army for a year after which he began his career as a researcher. As a researcher, he had the opportunity to work on various areas like structure of antibodies, tumor specific immunity, immunochemistry, immune complex diseases and so on. He worked in collaboration with renowned scientists like William Paul, Victor Nussenzweig, Gerald Edelman and Zoltan Ovary among many others. He was jointly awarded the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with immunologist Jean Dausset and geneticist George D. Snell.
// Famous Medical Scientists
Johannes Peter Müller
Johannes Peter Müller was a German physiologist and comparative anatomist. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Cesar Milstein
Cesar Milstein was an Argentinian biochemist who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of monoclonal antibody. Explore this biography to get details about his life, career and scientific discoveries.
Frederick Banting
Frederick Banting was a Canadian medical scientist and physician who won the Nobel Prize for discovering insulin. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.
Childhood & Early Life
Baruj Benacerraf was born on 29 October 1920, at Caracas, Venezuela. His father was a business man from Spanish Morocco and mother was from French Algeria. His brother, Paul Joseph Salomon Benacerraf, grew up to become a renowned philosopher.
In 1925, he along with his family shifted to Paris from Venezuela. He completed his primary and secondary school education in French.
With the onset of World War II, in 1939, he and his family shifted back to Venezuela. In 1940, he moved to New York, USA to pursue higher studies.
He enrolled at the Columbia University in the School of General Studies and graduated with Bachelors degree in Science in 1942. Later he successfully completed his degree in Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Virginia.
Career
After completing his graduation, Baruj Benacerraf pursued his medical internship at the Queens General Hospital in New York City, after which he served in the US Army from 1946 to 1948.
After his discharge from military service he joined the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons as researcher. During this phase, he got the opportunity to gain an understanding of immunochemistry and basic immunology.
In 1949, he along with his wife and daughter shifted to Paris and he subsequently accepted a position in Bernard Halpern's laboratory at the Broussais Hospital. He carried out research to study reticuloendothelial function with regards to immunity and developed methods to study the emptying of particulate matter from blood by RES.
In 1956 he returned to USA and focused on immune complex diseases, cellular hypersensitivity, anaphylactic hypersensitivity, structure of antibodies and tumor specific immunity. He worked in collaboration with renowned scientists which include immunologists Robert McCluskey, Philip Gell, Lloyd J. Old, Zoltan Ovary and biologist Gerald Edelman.
During this period he also managed a New York bank—the Colonial Trust Company that he had inherited from his father. However, he retired from his position at the bank so that he could devote his time to science.
He also commenced his research in immunogenetics that involved the discovery of genetically determined structures on cells that control immunological responses. As per further studies in this field in later years, researchers have identified more than 30 genes in a gene complex called the major histocompatibility complex, which regulates immune reactions.
In 1968 he joined the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease as the Director of Laboratory of Immunology. Here, he received the opportunity to conduct studies on immunogenetics.
Two years later, in 1970 he accepted a position at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Pathology. Beginning 1980 he also served as the president of the Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber cancer institute, Boston.
He retired in 1995 but remained on the Boards of Dana-Farber. He had written approximately 300 papers during his career. His works include ‘Textbook of Immunology’ with Emil R. Unanue (1979), ‘Son of the Angel’ (1990), ‘From Caracas to Stockholm: A Life in Medical Science’ (1998) and ‘Hybrid 5’ (2003).
Major Works
Baruj Benacerraf was an immunologist who researched on the working of the human immune system. His most noted work was the discovery of genes that control immune responses and the part played by genes in autoimmune diseases.
Awards & Achievements
He was the recipient of the Rabbi Shai Shacknai Prize in Immunology and Cancer Research presented by Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1974.
In 1976, he was awarded the T. Duckett Jones Memorial Award by Helen Hay Whitney Foundation.
Baruj Benacerraf jointly won the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Jean Dausset and George Davis Snell. The trio won the award "for their discoveries concerning genetically determined structures on the cell surface that regulate immunological reactions".
In 1990 he was awarded the National Medal of Science.
The Gold-Headed Cane Award of the American Society of Investigative Pathology was received by him in 1996. The same year he won the Charles A. Dana Award.
He received the 2001 AAI Excellence in Mentoring Award.
He was the elected member of professional societies like American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Institute of Medicine and The National Academy of Sciences.
Personal Life & Legacy
Baruj Benacerraf married Annette Dreyfus in 1943 and the couple had a daughter named Beryl Rica Benacerraf. His wife, Annette, died in June 2011.
He died of pneumonia on 2 August 2011, at Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, at the age of 90.
// Famous Scientists
Juliane Koepcke
Juliane Koepcke is a German-Peruvian biologist, who was the lone survivor among the 92 passengers and crew of the ill-fated LANSA Flight 508 that crashed in the Peruvian rainforest on 24 December 1971. Know more about her life in this biography.
Henry Cavendish
Henry Cavendish was a theoretical chemist and physicist, renowned for discovery of hydrogen and calculation of the mass of earth. To know more about his childhood, profile, timeline and career read on
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was a Russian rocket scientist and a pioneer of astronautics. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, family, personal life, career, achievements, etc.
Baruj Benacerraf's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1980 - Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | |
| 0 | 1990 - National Medal of Science for Biological Sciences | |
Baruj Benacerraf biography timelines
- // 29th Oct 1920Baruj Benacerraf was born on 29 October 1920, at Caracas, Venezuela. His father was a business man from Spanish Morocco and mother was from French Algeria. His brother, Paul Joseph Salomon Benacerraf, grew up to become a renowned philosopher.
- // 1925In 1925, he along with his family shifted to Paris from Venezuela. He completed his primary and secondary school education in French.
- // 1939 To 1940With the onset of World War II, in 1939, he and his family shifted back to Venezuela. In 1940, he moved to New York, USA to pursue higher studies.
- // 1942He enrolled at the Columbia University in the School of General Studies and graduated with Bachelors degree in Science in 1942. Later he successfully completed his degree in Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Virginia.
- // 1943 To Jun 2011Baruj Benacerraf married Annette Dreyfus in 1943 and the couple had a daughter named Beryl Rica Benacerraf. His wife, Annette, died in June 2011.
- // 1946 To 1948After completing his graduation, Baruj Benacerraf pursued his medical internship at the Queens General Hospital in New York City, after which he served in the US Army from 1946 to 1948.
- // 1949In 1949, he along with his wife and daughter shifted to Paris and he subsequently accepted a position in Bernard Halpern's laboratory at the Broussais Hospital. He carried out research to study reticuloendothelial function with regards to immunity and developed methods to study the emptying of particulate matter from blood by RES.
- // 1956In 1956 he returned to USA and focused on immune complex diseases, cellular hypersensitivity, anaphylactic hypersensitivity, structure of antibodies and tumor specific immunity. He worked in collaboration with renowned scientists which include immunologists Robert McCluskey, Philip Gell, Lloyd J. Old, Zoltan Ovary and biologist Gerald Edelman.
- // 1968In 1968 he joined the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease as the Director of Laboratory of Immunology. Here, he received the opportunity to conduct studies on immunogenetics.
- // 1970 To 1980Two years later, in 1970 he accepted a position at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Pathology. Beginning 1980 he also served as the president of the Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber cancer institute, Boston.
- // 1974He was the recipient of the Rabbi Shai Shacknai Prize in Immunology and Cancer Research presented by Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1974.
- // 1976In 1976, he was awarded the T. Duckett Jones Memorial Award by Helen Hay Whitney Foundation.
- // 1980Baruj Benacerraf jointly won the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Jean Dausset and George Davis Snell. The trio won the award "for their discoveries concerning genetically determined structures on the cell surface that regulate immunological reactions".
- // 1990In 1990 he was awarded the National Medal of Science.
- // 1996The Gold-Headed Cane Award of the American Society of Investigative Pathology was received by him in 1996. The same year he won the Charles A. Dana Award.
- // 2001He received the 2001 AAI Excellence in Mentoring Award.
- // 2nd Aug 2011He died of pneumonia on 2 August 2011, at Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, at the age of 90.
// Famous Venezuelan peoples
Simon Bolivar
Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military leader who was instrumental in independence of several Latin American countries from the Spanish rule. This biography profiles his childhood, life, achievements and timeline.
Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan-American fashion designer known for her elegance and class in dressing celebrities around the world. This biographyprovides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Dross Rotzank
Dross Rotzank is a Venezuelan YouTuber, writer, blogger and journalist. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about his life.
Michelle Lewin
Michelle Lewin is a Venezuelan Fitness Model. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements, and fun facts about her.
Daniela Nieves
Daniela Nieves is a popular Venezuelan-American actress. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Mariale Marrero
Mariale Marrero is a Venezuelan YouTuber and social media influencer. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements, and fun facts about her.
Baruj Benacerraf's FAQ
What is Baruj Benacerraf birthday?
Baruj Benacerraf was born at 1920-10-29
When was Baruj Benacerraf died?
Baruj Benacerraf was died at 2011-08-02
Which age was Baruj Benacerraf died?
Baruj Benacerraf was died at age 90
Where is Baruj Benacerraf's birth place?
Baruj Benacerraf was born in Caracas, Venezuela
What is Baruj Benacerraf nationalities?
Baruj Benacerraf's nationalities is Venezuelan
Who is Baruj Benacerraf spouses?
Baruj Benacerraf's spouses is Annette Benacerraf
Who is Baruj Benacerraf siblings?
Baruj Benacerraf's siblings is Paul Benacerraf
Who is Baruj Benacerraf childrens?
Baruj Benacerraf's childrens is Beryl Rica Benacerraf
Who is Baruj Benacerraf's father?
Baruj Benacerraf's father is Abraham Benacerraf
Who is Baruj Benacerraf's mother?
Baruj Benacerraf's mother is Henrietta Lasry
What is Baruj Benacerraf's sun sign?
Baruj Benacerraf is Scorpio
How famous is Baruj Benacerraf?
Baruj Benacerraf is famouse as Immunologist