# Herbert W. Virgin
**Herbert W. Virgin IV** (known as "Skip" Virgin) is an American virologist and immunologist known for discovering murine (relating to mice; murine norovirus infects mice) norovirus, defining the mammalian virome, showing how a virus plus a susceptibility gene produces [Crohn's disease](https://www.edgepedia.org/crohns-disease)-like pathology, and directing development of the COVID-19 antibody sotrovimab. He was Mallinckrodt Professor and Chair of Pathology & [Immunology](https://www.edgepedia.org/immunology) at Washington University School of Medicine from 2006 to 2017 and is now Professor Emeritus there.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) From 2018 to 2022 he was Chief Scientific Officer of Vir Biotechnology,[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) and since September 2024 he has been a Distinguished Fellow at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading the AI-Enable Cures Frontier program.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2016.[2](https://nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20038975.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Field | Virology and immunology; persistent viral infection, the virome, and host genetics[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) |
| Signature work | Discovery of murine norovirus, the first culture and structure of a norovirus; 2010 Cell paper on virus-plus-Atg16L1 interaction in Crohn's disease[3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/) • [4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602997/) |
| Training | A.B., M.D., and Ph.D. from Harvard; graduate work with Emil Unanue; postdoctoral studies with Bernard Fields[5](https://investors.vir.bio/news/news-details/2017/Vir-Biotechnology-Appoints-Herbert-W.-Skip-Virgin-Executive-Vice-President-and-Chief-Scientific-Officer-11-28-2017/default.aspx) |
| Washington University | Faculty member from 1990; Edward Mallinckrodt Professor and department chair 2006 to 2017; responsible for all diagnostics at WUSM, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and St. Louis Children's Hospital[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) |
| Industry | EVP and Chief Scientific Officer, Vir Biotechnology, 2018 to 2022; seven new molecular entities into the clinic[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) • [3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/) |
| Current role | Distinguished Fellow, AI Drug Discovery and Development (Accelerator), Gates Foundation, from September 2024[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) |
| Honors | National Academy of Sciences (2016), ASCI, AAP, AAAS, American Academy of Microbiology |[2](https://nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20038975.html) • [3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/)
## Education and training
Virgin earned his A.B., M.D., and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School; he earned his medical and doctoral degrees at Harvard Medical School in 1985.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) • [6](https://source.washu.edu/2016/05/murphy-virgin-elected-national-academy-sciences/) According to The Source, he performed his graduate work with Emil Unanue, who held the Mallinckrodt chair Virgin would later occupy.[7](https://source.washu.edu/2006/07/virgin-named-head-of-pathology-and-immunology/) According to his NAS biosketch, his doctorate was work in bacterial immunity, followed by postdoctoral work in viral genetics and pathogenesis with [Bernard Fields](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernard-n-fields) at Harvard.[2](https://nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20038975.html) • [5](https://investors.vir.bio/news/news-details/2017/Vir-Biotechnology-Appoints-Herbert-W.-Skip-Virgin-Executive-Vice-President-and-Chief-Scientific-Officer-11-28-2017/default.aspx) He trained in internal medicine at [Brigham and Women's Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/brigham-and-womens-hospital) and in infectious diseases at Barnes Hospital.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628)
## Career record
Virgin joined Washington University School of Medicine in 1990 as an instructor in the department of medicine and in pathology and immunology.[6](https://source.washu.edu/2016/05/murphy-virgin-elected-national-academy-sciences/) According to *The Source*, he became professor of pathology and immunology in 2002, was named the Edward Mallinckrodt Professor and head of the department in 2006, succeeding [Emil R. Unanue](https://www.edgepedia.org/emil-r-unanue), and was named professor of medicine in 2008.[6](https://source.washu.edu/2016/05/murphy-virgin-elected-national-academy-sciences/) • [7](https://source.washu.edu/2006/07/virgin-named-head-of-pathology-and-immunology/) As chair from 2006 to 2017 he was responsible for all diagnostics at the medical school, Barnes-[Jewish Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/jewish-hospital), and St. Louis Children's Hospital, and he is now Professor Emeritus.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) From 2009 to 2014 he directed the NIH-funded Midwest Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease Research, and in 2014 became director and principal investigator of an NIH-funded Center of Excellence in Translational Research that targeted autophagy genes as a broad-spectrum host-defense pathway against viruses, bacteria, and parasites including [West Nile virus](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-nile-virus), norovirus, and *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) • [8](https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8642370)
## Representative work
His laboratory discovered murine norovirus, the first structure and culture of a norovirus, and developed norovirus genetics, work that is helping scientists seek ways to weaken norovirus for use as a vaccine.[3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/) • [7](https://source.washu.edu/2006/07/virgin-named-head-of-pathology-and-immunology/)
The 2010 Cell paper ["Virus-Plus-Susceptibility Gene Interaction Determines Crohn's Disease Gene Atg16L1 Phenotypes in Intestine"](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2010.05.009) demonstrated that a specific virus infection combined with a mutation in the Crohn's susceptibility gene Atg16L1 induces intestinal pathologies in mice that neither factor produces alone.[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602997/) The interaction generated abnormalities in [Paneth cell](https://www.edgepedia.org/paneth-cell) granule packaging and unique patterns of gene expression, and altered the response to chemical injury to include pathologies resembling aspects of Crohn's disease.[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602997/) The pathologies depended on TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and were prevented by broad-spectrum antibiotics.[4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602997/) A related 2014 Science study showed that antibiotics prevented persistent murine norovirus infection, an effect reversed by replenishing the bacterial microbiota, and that the interferon-lambda receptor Ifnlr1 and the transcription factors Stat1 and Irf3 were required for antibiotics to block persistence.[9](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1258025)
## Virome research
His 2009 Cell review ["Redefining Chronic Viral Infection" was followed by the 2014 Cell review ["The Virome in Mammalian Physiology and Disease" in which Virgin defined the virome as the collective of viruses infecting host cells, virus-derived elements in chromosomes, and viruses infecting the organisms inhabiting us, and stated that the virome contains the most abundant and fastest-mutating genetic elements on Earth.[10](https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(14)00231-1) He argued that the genetic and transcriptional identity of mammals is defined in part by a coevolved virome.[10](https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(14)00231-1) His Washington University laboratory's next-generation sequencing studies linked the human virome to enteropathy in AIDS, to inflammatory bowel diseases, and to type 1 diabetes risk in at-risk children.[5](https://investors.vir.bio/news/news-details/2017/Vir-Biotechnology-Appoints-Herbert-W.-Skip-Virgin-Executive-Vice-President-and-Chief-Scientific-Officer-11-28-2017/default.aspx) • [2](https://nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20038975.html)
## Sotrovimab and industry roles
Vir [Biotechnology](https://www.edgepedia.org/biotechnology) announced Virgin's appointment as Executive Vice President of Research and Chief Scientific Officer on November 28, 2017, effective January 1, 2018, reporting to the company's CEO.[5](https://investors.vir.bio/news/news-details/2017/Vir-Biotechnology-Appoints-Herbert-W.-Skip-Virgin-Executive-Vice-President-and-Chief-Scientific-Officer-11-28-2017/default.aspx) In that role he directed discovery of seven new molecular entities brought into the clinic, including monoclonal antibodies, siRNAs, and vectored vaccines targeting [SARS-CoV-2](https://www.edgepedia.org/sars-cov-2), influenza, hepatitis B, hepatitis delta, and HIV.[3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/) The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody sotrovimab, which he directed the discovery of, became an approved monoclonal antibody for treatment of COVID-19 in at-risk persons and received emergency authorization in many countries.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) • [3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/) A monoclonal antibody plus siRNA combination targeting hepatitis delta virus received FDA Fast Track status and Orphan Drug Designation from the [European Medicines Agency](https://www.edgepedia.org/european-medicines-agency), and Vir sponsored an expanded access program for intravenous sotrovimab.[3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/) • [11](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05235347)
## Honors and recognition
Virgin was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2016, with primary section 44 Microbial Biology and secondary section 43 Immunology and [Inflammation](https://www.edgepedia.org/inflammation).[2](https://nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20038975.html) He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, AAAS, and the American Academy of Microbiology, and has served as a reviewing editor at Science and on the editorial boards of Cell and Cell Host and Microbe.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) • [3](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/)
## Recent developments
After leaving Vir Biotechnology in 2022, Virgin served as Head of the [Institute of Medicine](https://www.edgepedia.org/institute-of-medicine) and Chief Medical Officer at Altos Labs from 2022 to 2023.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628) He joined the Gates Foundation on September 9, 2024 as Distinguished Fellow, AI Drug Discovery and Development (Accelerator), where he heads the AI-Enable Cures Frontier program, building AI and machine-learning tools for biomarker and target discovery and for ADMET prediction.[1](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628)
## References
1. [Herbert Virgin (0000-0001-8580-7628) - ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-7628)
2. [Member Directory - Herbert W. Virgin, IV - NAS](https://nasonline.org/member-directory/members/20038975.html)
3. [Herbert W. Virgin IV - NAS Directory](https://www.nasonline.org/directory-entry/herbert-w-virgin-iv-69dini/)
4. [Virus-plus-susceptibility gene interaction determines Crohn's disease gene Atg16L1 phenotypes in intestine (Cell, 2010)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20602997/)
5. [Vir Biotechnology Appoints Herbert W. "Skip" Virgin EVP and Chief Scientific Officer (November 28, 2017)](https://investors.vir.bio/news/news-details/2017/Vir-Biotechnology-Appoints-Herbert-W.-Skip-Virgin-Executive-Vice-President-and-Chief-Scientific-Officer-11-28-2017/default.aspx)
6. [Murphy, Virgin elected to National Academy of Sciences - The Source, WashU](https://source.washu.edu/2016/05/murphy-virgin-elected-national-academy-sciences/)
7. [Virgin named head of pathology and immunology - The Source, WashU](https://source.washu.edu/2006/07/virgin-named-head-of-pathology-and-immunology/)
8. [NIH RePORTER - Autophagy Modulators as Novel Broad-Spectrum Anti-infective Agents](https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8642370)
9. [Commensal microbes and interferon-lambda determine persistence of enteric murine norovirus infection (Science, 2014)](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1258025)
10. https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(14)00231-1
11. [Sotrovimab Expanded Access Treatment Protocol (NCT05235347)](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05235347)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Life and health › Life and health scientists › Life scientists › Researchers in immunology, microbiology, and virology › Virology › Viral pathogenesis and immunity researchers*
*Initially written Sep 20, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 25, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license