William J. Rutter was a pioneer in the formation of the modern biotechnology industry. In 1981 Rutter cofounded Chiron, a leading biotechnology company dedicated to treatment and diagnosis of infectious and other diseases. He has also served on the board of overseers at Harvard University, the board of trustees of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and several private company boards. He has received many honors, including the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment.
Rutter, along with Edward Penhoet and Pablo Valenzuela, cofounded one of the earliest biotechnology companies, Chiron Corporation, formed in 1981 in Emeryville, California; he served as chairman of its board from its inception until 1999. Chiron’s success was pivotal to the growth of biotechnology in its early years. The company focuses on producing drugs and diagnostics for infectious diseases and was responsible for the first genetically engineered vaccine (for hepatitis B), the discovery of hepatitis C, and diagnostic tests used worldwide to ensure that blood or blood products are not contaminated with hepatitis B and C or HIV.
Rutter joined the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 1968 as Herzstein Professor and served as chair until 1982. As chair of the department, Rutter spearheaded the drive to turn the department into a leading research organization, with emphasis on an interdisciplinary molecular approach. Under his leadership the department made some of the most important contributions in biotechnology, including the development of recombinant DNA techniques and the first cloning of the genes for insulin and human growth hormone. Rutter’s contribution helped make UCSF known as a leading institution for the study of basic biological and genetic research. From 1983 through 1989 he was director of UCSF’s Hormone Research Institute. He became professor emeritus of the department in 1991. Rutter was awarded the 2003 Biotechnology Heritage Award.
