1879-1970

American pathologist who discovered that a virus could induce tumors and be mechanically transmitted among chickens. Initially derided, then belatedly honored with the Nobel Price in 1966, Rous successfully extracted a submicroscopic agent from tumors, and induced the sarcoma by injecting it into chickens. Rous also postulated that carcinogenesis consists of initiation and promotion and could be induced by chemicals, radiation, and viruses. He also developed methods for cellular and viral culturing, as well as blood preservation.