David Wilson Talmage (September 15, 1919 – March 6, 2014) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

immunologist. He made significant contributions to the

clonal selection In immunology, clonal selection theory explains the functions of cells of the immune system (lymphocytes) in response to specific antigens invading the body. The concept was introduced by Australian doctor Frank Macfarlane Burnet in 1957, in an ...

theory.

Career

Talmage was born to American Presbyterian missionaries in Japanese-controlled Korea. He was educated by home school and mission school until attending a boarding school in

Pyongyang Pyongyang (, , ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is known as the "Capital of the Revolution". Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 populat ...

for secondary education. Talmage received his BS from Davidson College in 1941 and his MD from

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...

in 1944. From 1952 to 1959 he was associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. From 1959 he was professor of medicine at the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University o ...

, professor of microbiology from 1960 to 1986, and distinguished professor starting in 1986. Between 1973 and 1983 he served as director of Webb-Waring Lung Institute and as associate dean of research from 1983 to 1986. He won the inaugural

American Association of Immunologists Lifetime Achievement Award The American Association of Immunologists Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the American Association of Immunologists (AAI). It has been awarded annually to a single AAI member since 1994. Winners Source: See also * Li ...

in 1994. Talmage's protégé

Andor Szentivanyi Asthma is a common pulmonary condition defined by chronic inflammation of respiratory tubes, tightening of respiratory smooth muscle, and episodes of bronchoconstriction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in 11 children ...

discovered The Beta Adrenergic Theory of Asthma. He died at the age of 94 on March 6, 2014.

References

* 1919 births Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences 2014 deaths American immunologists Davidson College alumni Washington University School of Medicine alumni University of Chicago faculty University of Colorado Denver faculty American expatriates in Korea Members of the National Academy of Medicine {{US-physician-stub