Stephen Coplan Harrison is a preeminent molecular biophysicist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed structural biology and virology. He currently serves as the Giovanni Armenise-Harvard Professor in Basic Biomedical Sciences at Harvard Medical School, where he is also Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Professor of Pediatrics. Following his BA in chemistry and physics from Harvard University in 1963 and PhD in biophysics in 1967, he conducted postdoctoral research at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge as a Henry fellow. Harrison joined the Harvard faculty in 1971 and has since established himself as a visionary leader in structural biology, founding the Center for Molecular and Cellular Dynamics which coordinates structural biology research across Harvard and affiliated institutions.
Dr. Harrison pioneered high-resolution virus crystallography with his groundbreaking 1978 work on tomato bushy stunt virus, determining the first atomic-level structure of any virus and establishing the foundation for modern structural virology. His laboratory subsequently elucidated the structures of critical viral components from major human pathogens including the capsid of human papillomavirus, envelope of dengue virus, and multiple HIV components, revealing fundamental mechanisms of viral assembly, entry, and immune evasion. His structural studies of protein-DNA complexes deciphered the principles of base-pair recognition and explained how cells control gene expression, while his work on protein-kinase switching mechanisms provided crucial insights into cellular signaling. These contributions have been instrumental in developing better vaccines and treatments for diseases including influenza, HIV, dengue fever, and Ebola, with his structural blueprints guiding rational therapeutic design.
Beyond his research, Harrison has profoundly shaped the field through his mentorship, having trained numerous scientists who have become leaders in structural biology, with recognition including Harvard Medical School's William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award in 2011. His leadership extends to directing the Harvard Cryo-EM Center for Structural Biology and serving as an Investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 1987, where he continues to advance the integration of cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and live-cell imaging to create molecular movies of biological processes. Harrison's current research focuses on influenza virus immunology, particularly the molecular basis of antibody affinity maturation and its implications for next-generation vaccine design, while continuing structural studies of kinetochores and other complex cellular assemblies. His enduring legacy as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society and recipient of prestigious awards including the Welch Award in Chemistry reflects his transformative impact on structural biology and his ongoing commitment to unraveling the molecular machinery of life.
