Dr. Samuel Katz: Innovative Scientist who Helped Develop the Measles Vaccine

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November 26, 2022

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The renowned virologist passed away recently at the age of 95.

Dr. Samuel Katz, the renowned virologist who was part of the research team that developed the measles vaccine, passed away recently at the age of 95. His pioneering work has saved countless lives of children.

Born in New Hampshire to Morris and Ethel Katz, Samuel went to Dartmouth College in 1944, when he was 17. His first interest was journalism, and while serving in the Navy, he received hospital training, an experience that turned his passion to medicine.

He graduated with a bachelor’s in medical science from Dartmouth in 1950 and graduated cum laude from Harvard Medical School. During his residency at a Boston Children’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, he worked in the polio wards where he saw the disease’s devastation firsthand. In 1955, he also witnessed an amazing event: the Salk polio vaccine effectively eradicating the childhood scourge, one that also affected adults, including a U.S. President.

The young doctor knew then that his passion was to study infectious diseases and perhaps contribute to the next world-changing vaccine.

Do Some Good

Shortly after his stint in the polio units, Dr. Katz joined the eminent lab team of Nobel Laureate Dr. John Enders, whose research was at the basis of the development of the polio vaccine.

His son, John Katz, said: “My father felt like this was an area where he could do some good — there were so many other diseases that didn’t yet have vaccines.”

“My father felt like this was an area where he could do some good — there were so many other diseases that didn’t yet have vaccines.”

The measles virus had already been isolated from a local 13-year-old schoolboy, David Edmonston. The challenge was to find a way to make an “attenuated,” or weakened, virus to create a vaccine that would be both safe and fully effective.

“And indeed we went to embryonated hens’ eggs,” Dr. Katz said in a 2014 interview for the podcast Open Forum Infectious Diseases. The “Edmonston virus” as it was called, was passed through chick embryos more than a dozen times, reducing its strength. The team, along with Yugoslavian research fellow Milan Milovanovic, then injected rhesus monkeys.

The results? The monkeys showed none of the classic symptoms, such as fever and rashes, or viremia, the presence of the virus in the bloodstream. But the monkeys had antibodies.

“So we were on our way,” said Dr. Katz.

Next, human trial. Though somewhat controversial, this process was essential to the development of the attenuated vaccine. The Enders team used the Walter E. Fernald State School in Waltham, Mass., a facility for children with severe neurological disorders. Dr. Katz said that parental consent was given for the 20 patients chosen.

“We injected these youngsters with the chick cell virus and observed them daily,” Dr. Katz said in the podcast. “We did throat cultures. We did blood cultures. And they never had any viremia, they never had any virus in their throat. … So we had made the big jump.”

The New England Journal of Medicine published the findings in 1961, and there was a huge response plus inquiries. Among them were correspondence from British pediatrician, Dr. David Morely, in Nigeria. He appealed to expand the measles vaccine tests to Nigeria, where the mortality rate for the illness was as high as 15 percent.

The work by Dr. Katz in Nigeria produced important insights for global vaccination, including how infants with measles often stopped breastfeeding because of mouth sores and became severely dehydrated. Simple hydration treatments were added to measles vaccine regimes in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Because these vaccines are so similar to the natural infection that they help prevent, they create a strong and long-lasting immune response. Just 1 or 2 doses of most live vaccines can give you a lifetime of protection against a germ and the disease it causes.

A research associate in the lab in 1958, Dr. Katz kept that title for the next decade, during which he was also a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Katz left Harvard for the Duke University School of Medicine in 1968. As chairman of its pediatrics department for 22 years, he helped raise its national standing.

At Duke, continuing his work, he was Wilburt C. Davison Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine.

Visionary Researcher and Innovator

In addition to measles, Dr. Katz was involved in studies of vaccinia, polio, rubella, influenza, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae b conjugates, HIV.

The indomitable Dr. Katz stepped down from running the Duke pediatrics department in 1990 to work with his second wife, the notable Dr. Catherine Wilfert, an H.I.V./AIDS researcher, activist and professor of pediatrics at the Duke medical school. She was the principal investigator in a pediatric AIDS clinical trial, beginning in 1987, that showed the efficacy of using the drug AZT to reduce the incidence of mother-to-child transmission of H.I.V. by over 60 percent. She left Duke in 1996 and became scientific director of the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Dr. Katz continued to teach at Duke until retiring in 2017.

Dr. Mary Klotman, Dean of the Duke medical school and Vice-Chancellor of Health Affairs, said in a phone interview, “He had such a command of virology and clinical practice and was engaging in a very positive way. He was a role model for the integration of science, clinical care and mentoring the next generation of clinicians.”

Dr. Katz received numerous honors, including the Gold Medal of the Albert Sabin Vaccine Institute in 2003, and in 2007 he was the recipient of the highly prestigious Pollin Prize in recognition of his contributions to pediatric infectious disease research and vaccine development, especially his instrumental role in the development and application of the measles vaccine. The fifth annual $200,000 Pollin Prize, the largest international award for pediatric research, recognizes outstanding achievement in biomedical or public health research resulting in important improvements to the health of children.

In his later years, he remained a strong advocate for safe vaccination, despite a surge of anti-vaccination groups.

A True Mensch

Upon his death at age 95 on October 31st 2022, remembrances poured in worldwide.

One of the touching tributes was from Dr. Robert Saul, a former student, colleague and friend. Here is an excerpt:

I was a newly minted doctor, ready to take on the world of pediatrics, in 1976. I was headed to Duke University Medical Center [and] had the privilege to be under the tutelage of Dr. Sam Katz, Chairperson of the Department of Pediatrics. My life was changed forever in the 3 years to follow, in ways unimaginable. Medical training after medical school had a foreboding reputation. Yet Dr. Katz’s enthusiasm and humanity made this work less of a burden while we recognized its importance and crucial need. I felt his compassion for those that we treated. I felt his empathy for his trainees through the nurturing environment that he established within the department. I have asked myself over the years what are the qualities that Sam had as a mentor that I could incorporate into my career after residency. He was an experienced and trusted advisor, but he was so much more. Let me explain –

Research –The importance of this work cannot be overemphasized in terms of saving countless lives and disabilities.

Educator – Sam was always keenly aware of his responsibility (and ability) to be an effective teacher for the upcoming generation of doctors. His prolific writings attest to his determination as an educator. I’d like to think that my enthusiasm for the same was ignited by Dr. Katz. Two of my pediatric infectious disease books that he co-authored were signed by Sam and have a prized spot in my study.

Administrator – The pressures of juggling administrative tasks while maintaining clinical activity, educational duties and research pursuits can create a cocoon around [administrators]. That was never the case for Sam as he was there whenever needed.

Innovator – Even late in his career, he was looking at ways to bring HIV treatment to those that needed it far beyond the borders of the US. He was actively promoting all vaccines in novel ways, recognizing their importance to the health of children.

Advocate – Sam was a lifelong tireless advocate on behalf of children. He effectively argued for a strong emphasis on the needs of children and the need for continued research to improve in the years ahead.

Visionary – His ability to lead the charge for enhanced pediatric services and research at Duke and nationwide (including the American Academy of Pediatrics) was recognized by many. Sam’s awards were many and so well deserved.

Humanitarian – One of Sam’s greatest contributions was his ability to reach out to so many. He was truly a citizen of the world, sharing in the humanity of all.

Colleague – In the years after my residency, we became colleagues, an honored status for me. To be a colleague with such an amazing man was the privilege of a lifetime -- and I was so grateful.

Friend –. Every new acquaintance with Sam led to a friendship. He was invested in every relationship.

I must relate a very personal story. One day I was asked to come to Dr. Katz’s office. He asked if anything was wrong. “People have noticed that you seem less jovial than usual,” he said. I replied, “Well, my father is in Chicago and seriously ill with cancer. I cannot afford to go visit.”

He arranged for a plane ticket and time off. He said, “You can pay me back with a donation to the department after you are out in practice.” That “debt” has been paid back but the memories of his generosity will never fade.

Dr. Samuel Katz lived and breathed the Jewish values of tikkun olam, fixing the world, and appreciating the infinite value of life. He was a brilliant mensch who saved millions of lives and made the world a better and safer place.

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