Peter Martin Biggs. 13 August 1926 — 27 December 2021

Abstract

Peter Biggs was a towering figure in poultry health research, making substantial contributions in avian infectious diseases in the second half of the twentieth century and first two decades of the twenty-first century. The world's poultry industry owes an immense debt to his pioneering research into Marek's disease (MD), a major threat to poultry health in the early years of intensive poultry production. On graduating from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 1953, Peter chose a research career studying avian diseases. Peter's dedicated research in the 1960s led to the identification of the MD virus and the subsequent development of a vaccine against MD. The development of MD vaccine, the first ever vaccine against a virus-induced cancer, had a major impact on sustaining the fledgling poultry farming that was crucial for the thriving modern poultry industry. Later, as the director of the Houghton Poultry Research Station in Cambridgeshire, UK, Peter led a programme of innovative scientific research exploiting scientific developments and technological advances to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding poultry industry. In addition to his outstanding leadership on research, Peter also contributed immensely to the formation of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, a global professional association for avian health specialists, and establishment of the journal Avian Pathology . Even after retirement, Peter continued to make valuable contributions to avian science through august bodies such as the Royal Society, Animal Health Trust, British Egg Marketing Board, British Veterinary Association and Houghton Trust. Peter was also a great mentor to many scientists who went on to leading roles.