When was Harvey J. Alter born?

Harvey J. Alter was born on 12 September 1935 in New York City.

Where did Harvey J. Alter study?

Harvey J. Alter was educated at University of Rochester.

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Harvey J. Alter

American medical researcher

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Harvey James Alter (born September 12, 1935) is an American medical researcher, virologist, physician and Nobel Prize laureate, who is best known for his work that led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Alter is the former chief of the infectious disease section and the associate director for research of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-1970s, Alter and his research team demonstrated that most post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not due to hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. Working independently, Alter and Edward Tabor, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, proved through transmission studies in chimpanzees that a new form of hepatitis, initially called "non-A, non-B hepatitis" caused the infections, and that the causative agent was probably a virus. This work eventually led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 along with Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice.

Quick facts

Born: 12 September 1935 wd
Place of birth: New York City wd
Citizenship: United States wd
Occupation: virologist, university teacher, physician, internist, hematologist, transfusiologist wd
Education: University of Rochester wd

Awards wd

Canada Gairdner International Award (2013)
Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award (2000)
Prix International de l’INSERM (2004)
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2020)
Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award (1992)
Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal (1977)
James Blundell Prize (1999)

About

Alter has received recognition for the research leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred to civilians in United States government public health service, and the 2000 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

Questions

When was Harvey J. Alter born?: Harvey J. Alter was born on 12 September 1935 in New York City.
Where did Harvey J. Alter study?: Harvey J. Alter was educated at University of Rochester.

Sources

Last updated 31 October 2026 · facts checked 5 November 2026

Cite this page

"Harvey J. Alter". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/harvey-j-alter. Retrieved 5 November 2026.

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