Renato Dulbecco: Viruses, genes, and cancer

Renato Dulbecco, renowned virologist and cancer researcher, passed away peacefully at his home in La Jolla, CA, February 19, 2012, 3 days before his 98th birthday. He was celebrated not only for his scientific achievements but also for inspiring a generation of younger scientists who went on to become distinguished in their own fields. Renato was a founding fellow of the Salk Institute, where he spent most of his career. He also served as president of the Institute from 1988 to 1992.

Renato Dulbecco.

Renato was born and educated in Italy. He received his MD degree from the University of Torino in 1936, after which he served in the Italian Army for 2 years. He returned to the University of Torino briefly before being drafted into the army again when the Second World War began. He was sent to the Russian front, where he was wounded. Following his recuperation, he joined the resistance, becoming a village physician near Torino.

After the war ended, Renato decided to study physics at the urging of Rita Levi-Montalcini, who thought physics might be helpful in understanding genes. Two years later he met Salvador Luria, who invited him to join his laboratory at Indiana University. There he studied photoreactivation of bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) and became friends with Jim Watson (codiscoverer of the structure of DNA), who was a graduate student with Luria at the time. Following a summer at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, he moved to the California Institute of Technology at the invitation of Max Delbrück. There he collaborated with Marguerite Vogt to isolate pure strains and mutants of poliovirus using the plaque isolation technique that had been used so successfully for bacteriophages. The techniques they developed made it possible to study the genetics of animal viruses in a quantitative way.

Their collaboration continued after they joined the newly established Salk Institute in 1963, where they investigated mechanisms of cell transformation by tumor viruses. I had the good fortune to be a postdoctoral fellow in Renato's laboratory from 1965 to 1969, a particularly exciting period. It was during that time that he and his associates carried out the experiments showing that the DNA tumor virus SV40 became integrated into the DNA of the host cell, a critical step in transforming the growth of the cell from normal to malignant. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1975, together with David Baltimore and Howard Temin, “for their discoveries concerning the interaction between tumor viruses and the genetic material of the cell.”

Those who were fortunate to experience the camaraderie of Renato's laboratory at the Salk Institute, which was enhanced by the boundless enthusiasm of Marguerite Vogt, remember it fondly. There was a feeling of shared purpose, accompanied by shared fun that was enviable. The freedom provided by the Salk Institute also played a part.

In 1972, Renato moved to England with his wife Maureen (who is Scottish) and their young daughter Fiona. He served as deputy director of research at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories in London from 1972 to 1977. Thereafter, he returned to the Salk Institute to pursue a new interest in mammary cell biology and breast cancer, reflecting his desire to apply insights from basic research to human health.

Renato believed that science should be useful to mankind. In his Nobel lecture, he pointed out the potential dangers of substances in the environment—including many produced by human activity—that can cause mutations leading to cancer. He urged governments to discourage the consumption of tobacco, a known carcinogen. He also lamented the practical difficulties in getting society to make the required sacrifices.

Renato thought deeply about the implications of genetic discoveries for understanding cancer and human physiology. These thoughts led him to suggest an international undertaking to sequence the human genome, described in a letter to Science in 1986, with the ultimate goal of deciphering the differences in the cancer genome. Subsequent developments justified his optimistic predictions.

Renato was called upon to assume the presidency of the Salk Institute in 1988 following the illness of the previous president, Frederic de Hoffmann. He accepted the challenge and served with distinction in the position for 4 years.

After his tenure as president of the Salk Institute, Renato and Maureen returned to Europe. Renato joined the Instituto di Tecnologie Biomediche Avanzate in Milan to continue his work on breast cancer and to direct the Italian Genome Project. During this period, he spent time both in Italy and at the Salk Institute. He finally returned permanently to La Jolla and the Salk Institute in 2006.

Renato loved science, as great scientists do. He also loved music, and was an accomplished pianist. He enjoyed working with his hands, and was fearless in attacking projects of homebuilding and renovation that would have daunted others.

Renato was a stimulating mentor and a generous colleague. He valued his younger collaborators, for whom he was an inspiring role model. He was a true gentleman, conducting himself with integrity and quiet confidence. His spirit lives on in the memories of those who knew him.