In 1996, Dr. Peter C. Doherty and Rolf M. Zinkernagel of Switzerland won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their “single T cell receptor altered self hypothesis,” a discovery of how the immune system recognizes infected cells. This ground-breaking research could lead to new therapies for cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Dr. Doherty traces his roots back to Co. Louth in Ireland. Regarding his Irish background, he states, “My Irish genetic heritage gave me a very fair skin, making me totally unsuited for life in a city that is known as the melanoma capital of the world. This limited my participation in the outdoor-oriented Australian way of life, and caused me to spend a great deal of time reading anything and everything.” He studied veterinary science at the University of Queensland and upon graduating, was contracted to work for the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock.

Dr. Doherty and his wife, Penny, moved to Scotland in 1967, where Doherty “could spend the whole day outside without the penalty of sunburn.” He worked for the Moredun Research Institute in Edinburgh while pursuing his doctorate at the University of Edinburgh.

The Dohertys returned to Australia in 1971 for Peter to pursue a post-doctorate fellowship in the Department of Microbiology at the JCSMR. There he met Zinkernagel and together they developed their award-winning hypothesis. From 1987 to 1992, Dr. Doherty served on the board of the International Laboratory for Research in Animal Diseases, Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Doherty is currently the chairman of the Immunology Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.