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Yvonne Barr
Born (1932-03-11)11 March 1932
Died 13 February 2016(2016-02-13) (aged 83)
Alma mater Trinity College Dublin
University of London
Known for Epstein–Barr virus
Scientific career
Fields Virology
Doctoral advisor Michael Anthony Epstein

Yvonne Balding (née Barr; 11 March 1932 – 13 February 2016) was an Irish-born virologist who co-discovered the Epstein–Barr virus in 1964.

Education and career

Barr was born in Ireland and graduated with honours in zoology from Trinity College, Dublin. Following her graduation Barr held several posts at veterinary and medical research laboratories in the UK and Canada. In 1963 Barr was the first of two research assistants employed by the English pathologist and virologist Michael Anthony Epstein, who had received a research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Barr, along with her research supervisor Epstein, discovered the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) during her PhD studies in 1964 at Middlesex Hospital. Prior to determining specifics about EBV, Epstein, Barr, and Bert Achong published their preliminary research in The Lancet. Barr was instrumental in the discovery of the Epstein-Barr virus, also called human herpesvirus 4, by preparing the samples used for experimentation.

She joined the team at the Bland Sutton Institute of Pathology of Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1963. Barr graduated from the University of London in 1966 with a PhD.

Personal life

Upon moving to Melbourne, she married Stuart Balding and had two children. Barr died in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 83.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Yvonne Barr para niños

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