Dr. William Trager died in February 2005 at the age of 95 years. He was an Emeritus Professor at Rockefeller University, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a Past–Vice President (1968), President (1974), and Honorary Member of the American Society of Parasitologists.
Dr. Trager's contributions to parasitology in general, and malariology in particular, were of enormous importance. Perhaps, however, his greatest contribution was his development, with Dr. James Jensen, of an in vitro continuous culture method for Plasmodium falciparum. It was fitting that this malarial parasite was the first to be cultured in vitro because it was also the first human malarial parasite life cycle to be resolved by Grassi in the late 19th century. Moreover, it is still the most lethal of the 4 primary species infecting humans in the world.
When Dick Seed informed one of us (G.W.E.) regarding Professor Trager's passing, I...