Roderick Murray was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and reared in Scotland and South Africa. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He earned a master's degree in organic chemistry from the University of South Africa and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School, having come to the United States in 1937.
Dr. Murray came to the NIH in 1946/7 as a commissioned PHS officer in the Laboratory of Biologics Controls, which later became the Division of Biological Standards (DBS). He was Director of DBS from 1956 (some say 1955 when DBS began) to 1972.
He worked with Drs. Kirschstein, Baron, and Van Hoosier on the live attenuated poliovirus vaccine. Did studies with Rhesus monkeys (from The Record article February 1960).
When DBS became administratively part of the FDA in 1972, Dr. Murray was appointed special assistant to the Director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He requested this transfer himself, wanting to stay within NIH. Dr. Murray retired in 1973 as an assistant surgeon general.
He worked in Building 8, Room 224 prior to construction of Building 29. He then worked on the first floor of Building 29, Room 129.
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He was also involved with Hepatitis research- add!
Add something about the controversy with Dr. Eddy.
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Dr. Murray at left with Dr. Smadel, the Lasker Award winner in 1962. Photo Credit National Library of Medicine.
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Dr. Roderick Murray. Photo Credit National Library of Medicine.
