June Almeida
Scottish virologist
Died when: 77 years 57 days (925 months)Star Sign: Libra
June Dalziel Almeida (5 October 1930 – 1 December 2007) was a Scottish virologist, a pioneer in virus imaging, identification, and diagnosis.Her skills in electron microscopy earned her an international reputation.
In 1964, Almeida was recruited by St Thomas's Hospital Medical School in London.By 1967, she had earned her Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) on the basis of her research and the resulting publications, while working in Canada, at Toronto's Ontario Cancer Institute and then in London at St Thomas's. she then continued her research at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School (RPGMS), which later became part of the Imperial College School of Medicine.
Almeida succeeded in identifying viruses that were previously unknown, including—in 1966—a group of viruses that was later named coronavirus, due to their crown-like appearance.
Her immune electron microscopy (IEM) innovations and insights contributed to research related to the diagnosis of hepatitis B, HIV, and rubella, among other viral diseases.
Her electron micrographs continue to be included in virology review textbooks, decades after she produced them.