Dr. Charles Rice is a world-renowned virologist whose pioneering work has revolutionized the understanding and treatment of hepatitis C virus. He currently serves as the scientific and executive director of the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C at The Rockefeller University, a position he has held since 2001 after fourteen impactful years at Washington University School of Medicine. Born in Sacramento, California in 1952, Dr. Rice initially pursued veterinary medicine at the University of California, Davis, where he earned his bachelor's degree in zoology in 1974 before shifting his focus to virology during graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology. He completed his PhD in biochemistry in 1981 under the mentorship of James Strauss, where his early research on RNA viruses including Sindbis virus laid the groundwork for his future contributions to virology.
Dr. Rice's most groundbreaking contribution came when he recognized critical flaws in the published sequence of hepatitis C virus, enabling him to engineer a complete and infectious viral genome capable of replicating in chimpanzees, a milestone achieved in 1997. This pivotal achievement provided definitive proof that hepatitis C virus alone caused post-transfusion hepatitis and established the first laboratory model for studying the virus, which had previously been impossible to culture. His laboratory subsequently identified multiple proteins essential for viral entry into liver cells and developed innovative assays to screen potential antiviral compounds, directly leading to the discovery of highly effective therapeutic agents. The culmination of this work resulted in the development of curative treatments capable of reducing HCV to undetectable levels in infected patients, transforming hepatitis C from a chronic, debilitating condition to a curable disease with cure rates exceeding 95 percent.
As a leader in the field, Dr. Rice has inspired generations of virologists through his rigorous scientific approach and commitment to translating basic research into clinical applications that save lives. His leadership extends beyond the laboratory, having served as president of the American Society for Virology and as a member of the National Academy of Sciences, where he continues to shape scientific discourse and policy. The development of curative hepatitis C treatments represents one of modern medicine's greatest success stories, with Dr. Rice's foundational work directly contributing to the FDA approval of the first direct-acting antivirals in 2013. Despite this remarkable achievement, Dr. Rice remains actively engaged in understanding viral replication mechanisms and innate immune responses, with his current research focused on emerging viral threats and continuing efforts to improve antiviral strategies, demonstrating his enduring commitment to advancing global public health.
