June 23, 2009 College News - Sidney Grossberg, MD, Walter Schroeder Professor Emeritus in Microbiology and Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, has been awarded honorary membership in the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research. Dr. Grossberg was selected for his fundamental contributions to the entire interferon field and his leadership role in establishing international reference standards for various interferons and their antibodies in connection with the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and the Society. Dr. Grossberg has received international recognition for his studies on interferons. He was the first to show the inhibition by interferon of infectious viral nucleic acid, describe interferon's effects on cellular differentiation, and identify specific, high-affinity receptors for interferons on the nuclear membrane. His most recent research is on the interactions between interferons and antibodies and the characterization of a new human retrovirus . Dr. Grossberg has previously received the American Society for Virology’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Grossberg will receive his honor in Lisbon, Portugal, during the society’s annual meeting.