Dr. Michiaki Takahashi, Japanese virologist who developed the varicella vaccine against chickenpox

 

Dr. Michiaki Takahashi, Japanese virologist who developed the first vaccine against chickenpox. Takahashi’s vaccine has since been administered to millions of children around the world, as an effective measure, to prevent severe cases of the contagious viral disease, and its transmission.    

Michiaki Takahashi, was born on 17 February, 1928, in Osaka, Japan. He earned his medical degree, from Osaka University,  and joined the Research Institute for Microbial Disease, Osaka University, in 1959. 

After studying measles and polio viruses, Dr. Takahashi, accepted a research fellowship in 1963, at Baylor College in the United States. It was during this time, that his son developed a serious bout of chickenpox, leading him to turn his expertise, toward combating the highly transmissible illness. 

Dr. Takahashi returned to Japan in 1965, and began culturing live, but weakened chickenpox viruses, in animal and human tissue. After just five short years of development, it was ready for clinical trials. 

In 1974, Dr. Takahashi had developed the first vaccine, targeting the varicella virus, that causes chickenpox. It was subsequently subjected to rigorous research, with immunosuppressed patients, and was proven to be extremely effective. In 1986, the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, began the rollout in Japan, as the only varicella vaccine approved by the World Health Organization.  

Dr. Takahashi’s lifesaving vaccine, was soon utilized in over 80 countries. In 1994, he was appointed the director of Osaka University’s Microbial Disease Study Group, a position he held until his retirement. 

After retirement from Osaka University, he was given the title, professor emeritus. He died on December 16, 2013, from heart failure. It was all due to his innovations, millions of cases of chickenpox are prevented each year.