Robert R. Redfield

Dr. Robert R. Redfield Jr. M.D. is an American virologist, a professor of Medicine at University of Maryland, Baltimore and a co-founder and associate director of the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. [Institute of Human Virology (n.d.)] Dr. Redfield is known for his pioneering contributions in clinical research, and in particular for his extensive research into the virology and therapeutic treatments of HIV infection and AIDS. During the 1980s in the early years of investigation into the AIDS pandemic Redfield led the research that was the first to conclusively demonstrate that the HIV retrovirus could be heterosexually transmitted. [Institute of Human Virology (n.d.), Medical Institute of Sexual Health (2007). See also the original papers on the topic, in Redfield "et al." (1985a, 1985b).] He also developed the staging system now in use worldwide for the clinical assessment of HIV infection. [Institute of Human Virology (n.d.), Medical Institute of Sexual Health (2007).]

Redfield's parents were both scientists at the National Institutes of Health, and Redfield's career in medical research was influenced by this background. [Institute of Human Virology (n.d.)] At college Redfield gained experience working in laboratories at Columbia University where the involvement of retroviruses in human disease was investigated.

As an undergraduate Redfield attended Georgetown University, obtaining a B.S. from the university's College of Arts and Sciences in 1973. He then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine, and was awarded his M.D. in 1977. Redfield's medical residency was undertaken at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, D.C., where he completed his postgraduate medical training and internships in internal medicine (1978–1980). By 1982 at WRAMC Redfield had completed clinical and research fellowships in infectious diseases and tropical medicine. [Medical Institute of Sexual Health (2007)] Redfield continued as a U.S. Army physician and medical researcher at the WRAMC for the next decade, working in the fields of virology, immunology and clinical research. During this period he collaborated with numerous teams at the forefront of AIDS research, publishing several key papers and was a strong and innovative advocate for strategies to translate knowledge gained from clinical studies to the practical treatment of patients afflicted by chronic viral diseases. [Medical Institute of Sexual Health (2007)]

Redfield retired from WRAMC in 1995, to concentrate on setting up a multidisciplinary research organization dedicated to developing research and treatment programs for chronic human viral infection and disease. To this end, in 1996 Redfield co-founded the Institute of Human Virology based at Maryland, together with his HIV research colleagues Dr. Robert Gallo, the co-discoverer of the HIV retrovirus, and noted viral epidemiologist Dr. William Blattner. [Institute of Human Virology (n.d.)]

Recognition awards acquired over the course of his research career include an honorary degree from the New York Medical College, a lifetime services award from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Immunology and Aging, and the Surgeon General's Physician Recognition Award. [Medical Institute of Sexual Health (2007)]

Notes

References

: cite web |author=Institute of Human Virology |year=n.d. |title=Dr. Robert R. Redfield |url=http://www.ihv.org/about/bios/redfield.html |work=Faculty |publisher=IHV, University of Maryland School of Medicine |accessdate=2008-09-15: cite web |author=Medical Institute of Sexual Health |year=2007 |title=Robert R. Redfield. M.D. |url=http://www.medinstitute.org/content.php?name=robertRedfield |work=National Advisory Board Members |publisher=The Institute|accessdate=2009-09-15: cite journal |author=Redfield, RR |coauthors=Markham PD, Salahuddin SZ, Sarngadharan MG, Bodner AJ, Folks TM, Ballou WR, Wright DC, Gallo RC |year=1985a |month=March |title=Frequent transmission of HTLV-III among spouses of patients with AIDS-related complex and AIDS |journal=Journal of the American Medical Association |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=AMA |volume=253|issue=11|pages=pp.1571–1573 |pmid=2983127|issn=0098-7484|oclc=116006679: cite journal |author=Redfield, RR |coauthors=Markham PD, Salahuddin SZ, Wright DC, Sarngadharan MG, Gallo RC |year=1985b |month=October|title=Heterosexually acquired HTLV-III/LAV disease (AIDS-related complex and AIDS). Epidemiologic evidence for female-to-male transmission |journal=Journal of the American Medical Association |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=AMA |volume=254|issue=18|pages=pp.2904–2906|pmid=2995695|issn=0098-7484|oclc=113563960

External links

* [http://medschool.umaryland.edu/facultyresearchprofile/viewprofile.aspx?id=4715 faculty profile] , University of Maryland School of Medicine