Jonas Edward SALK 1914 - …

He was an American virology and immunologist. He prepared the first effective vaccine against polio. He was born in New York in 1914. In 1939, he completed his medical studies at New York University and worked as an intern for two years. He worked as an assistant at the University of Michigan from 1942 to 1947. In 1947, he became an Associate Professor of Bacteriology and Director of the Virus Research Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1949, he became a professor of bacteriology research and in 1954; he became professor of preventive medicine. In 1957, he was appointed professor of experimental medicine. Salk contributed to the preparation of the flu vaccine during his years at the University of Michigan. After moving to the University of Pittsburgh, Salk concentrated all his research on polio vaccination. He made his first attempt on animals in 1950, a vaccine made up of dead viruses that could immunize against three types of poliovirus. Two years later, the vaccine was tested on children and in 1955 in the United States began to be implemented with a wide campaign. The Salk vaccine, which started with great hope and enthusiasm, caused intense debate after a while. Medicals began to defend the live virus vaccine, suggesting that the dead virus vaccine was ineffective. Although the problems were solved by controlling the production of Salk vaccine injected between the muscles in the following years, Sabin vaccine, which was prepared from live virus, was preferred to Salk vaccine in most countries due to the convenience of oral intake and the long-lasting effect. His main works were; Man Unfolding is The Survival of the Wisest.