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                           JeffNEWS, May 1, 1995
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Finland Honors Dr. Koprowski
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The President of the Republic of Finland has bestowed upon Hilary
Koprowski, MD, professor of microbiology and immunology and director
of the Center for Neurovirology, Jefferson Medical College (JMC), the
title, "Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland," for his
numerous scientific accomplishments during a 43-year career in medical
research.
 
Jussi J. Saukkonen, MD, dean of the College of Graduate Studies and
vice president for science policy, technology development and
international affairs and a former director of the National Public
Health Institute of Finland, presided at ceremonies held recently at
Jefferson when the Finnish Consul General in New York, Pertti Ripatti,
made the formal presentation of the title and its accompanying medal
to Dr. Koprowski. Bengt Jansson, the honorary Finnish Consul in
Philadelphia, accompanied Mr. Ripatti.
 
Mr. Ripatti and University president Paul C. Brucker, MD, praised
Dr. Koprowski for his outstanding achievements, which include the
development of an oral polio vaccine, rabies vaccine for humans and
animals, and monoclonal antibodies to diagnose and treat cancer.
 
An accomplished pianist born in Poland, Dr. Koprowski recalled that
he established his first cultural ties with Finland at age 12, when he
played the music of Finnish composer Selim Palmgren while studying at
the Warsaw Conservatory of Music.
 
A Jefferson faculty member since 1992, Dr. Koprowski conducts
research in the fields of virology, immunology, cancer and chronic
diseases of the central nervous system. He also directs the Institute
of Biotechnology and Advanced Molecular Medicine at Jefferson.
 
During his three decades at the helm of the Wistar Institute, he
trained several Finnish scientists, many of whom have become leaders
in their fields.


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