David Baltimore

Professor David Baltimore is an American biologist and 1975 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, awarded in recognition of his discovery of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that synthesizes DNA from RNA. Baltimore also conducted research that led to an understanding of the interaction between viruses and the genetic material of the cell. This contributed to an understanding of the role of viruses in the development of cancer.

He served as president of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) from 1997 to 2006, and is currently the President Emeritus and Robert Andrews Millikan Professor of Biology at Caltech.

Professor Baltimore has profoundly influenced international science, including key contributions to immunology, virology, cancer research, biotechnology, and recombinant DNA research, through his accomplishments as a researcher, administrator, educator, and public advocate for science and engineering. Professor Baltimore was General Director of the School in Life Sciences from 1991-97.

Awards and Honors

• 1971 First recipient of the Gustav Stern Award in Virology
• 1971 Warren Triennial Prize
• 1971 Eli Lilly Award in Immunology and Microbiology
• 1974 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 1974 NAS Award in Molecular Biology
• 1974 Canada Gairdner International Award
• 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• 1983 EMBO Member
• 1986 Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
• 1999 National Medal of Science
• 2000 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize
• 2021 Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science