St. Jude Virologist Honored by the Roy...( MEMPHIS Tenn. July ...),Health

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Renowned virologist Robert Webster, Ph.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has been invited to give the 2010 Leeuwenhoek Lecture by the Royal Society in London.

The Leeuwenhoek Lecture, named after microscopist Antony van Leeuwenhoek, was established to recognize excellence in the field of microbiology. Webster will present the lecture next summer. The Royal Society, founded in 1660, is the world's oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.

"I am delighted and honored by the invitation to present the Leeuwenhoek Lecture," Webster said. "Presenting the lecture is something that I've hoped to do throughout my career, and this invitation is a great privilege."

Webster holds the Rose Marie Thomas Chair in Infectious Diseases at St. Jude and has been with the hospital since 1968. His research into the structure and function of influenza virus proteins has contributed volumes to the world's knowledge of influenza as an emerging pathogen. His work has explored the development of new vaccines and antivirals, as well as the part wild birds play as major reservoirs for influenza viruses and their role in the evolution of new pandemic strains for humans and lower animals.

Webster's curriculum vitae contains more than 500 original articles and reviews on influenza viruses. In addition to his position at St. Jude, Webster has served as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Webster has received numerous honors throughout his career, including election to the Royal Society, London; the Royal Society of New Zealand; and the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Additionally, he was named by Scientific American magazine as a "Research Leader" within the 2005 Scientific A
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