2021 STARS HALL OF FAME

Charles M. Rice, Ph.D.

Nobel Laureate, Virologist, Chair in Virology at The Rockefeller University

Mariemont ES | Arden MS | Rio Americano HS

Dr. Charles M. Rice is a globally recognized virologist whose groundbreaking work has transformed the understanding and treatment of viral infections, particularly hepatitis C. A 1970 graduate of Rio Americano High School, Dr. Rice went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology.

He is the Maurice R. and Corinne P. Greenberg Chair in Virology and Head of the Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease at The Rockefeller University. Early in his career, while on faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Rice and his research team developed the first infectious molecular clone of the hepatitis C virus—an innovation that opened the door for effective treatments and cures, saving millions of lives.

Dr. Rice has authored more than 500 scientific articles and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He is a past president of the American Society for Virology and has received some of the world’s highest honors in biomedical science, including the Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award and the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

From his early days as a student in San Juan Unified to the halls of scientific achievement, Dr. Rice’s legacy continues to shape global health and inspire future generations of researchers.