Michael Houghton

Michael Houghton is a renowned scientist who co-discovered the hepatitis C virus in 1989. His research was crucial in identifying the virus responsible for most cases of what was then called non-A, non-B hepatitis. This breakthrough enabled the development of diagnostic tests and antiviral therapies, significantly reducing the disease’s spread and improving patient outcomes. Houghton’s work has had a profound impact on medicine and public health. In 2020, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, sharing it with colleagues Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice, for their contributions to understanding and combating hepatitis C.