A Massachusetts physician and educator who played a role in investigating COVID-19 vaccines and in setting related state policies has died unexpectedly. Dr. Robert Finberg’s death was announced Tuesday by UMass Medical School, where he was a distinguished professor of medicine and chair emeritus of the Department of Medicine. Finberg was 71. Finberg served as a principal investigator on more than half a dozen clinical trials related to COVID-19, including those to test the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and remdesivir as a treatment for those with severe illness. He was also a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group.Finberg also brought knowledge about the pandemic to the public. Throughout the pandemic, he answered questions and explained the latest scientific research into the vaccines during live segments on NewsCenter 5. Most recently, Finberg spoke on Friday about the return of mask mandates and how he anticipated they would alter the course of the pandemic. “With his trademark hat and a direct, approachable style that made him an effective leader, clinician, researcher, teacher and colleague, Dr. Finberg had a unique and significant influence at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial since his arrival in 1999,” UMass Medical School officials wrote in a statement. “As one of the nation’s foremost virologists, his professional contributions included more than 300 publications, more than 40 years of continuous NIH funding and numerous research grants from the Department of Defense, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and others. His body of work has elucidated our understanding of viral receptors and entry to host responses and he was widely recognized as an expert on influenza. His record of service to our academic health sciences center included nearly a decade on the UMass Memorial Board of Trustees.”Learn more: Tufts’ Dr. Helen Boucher remembers Dr. Finberg’s impact on career:
WORCESTER, Mass. —
A Massachusetts physician and educator who played a role in investigating COVID-19 vaccines and in setting related state policies has died unexpectedly.
Dr. Robert Finberg’s death was announced Tuesday by UMass Medical School, where he was a distinguished professor of medicine and chair emeritus of the Department of Medicine. Finberg was 71.
Finberg served as a principal investigator on more than half a dozen clinical trials related to COVID-19, including those to test the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and remdesivir as a treatment for those with severe illness. He was also a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group.
Finberg also brought knowledge about the pandemic to the public. Throughout the pandemic, he answered questions and explained the latest scientific research into the vaccines during live segments on NewsCenter 5.
Most recently, Finberg spoke on Friday about the return of mask mandates and how he anticipated they would alter the course of the pandemic.
“With his trademark hat and a direct, approachable style that made him an effective leader, clinician, researcher, teacher and colleague, Dr. Finberg had a unique and significant influence at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial since his arrival in 1999,” UMass Medical School officials wrote in a statement. “As one of the nation’s foremost virologists, his professional contributions included more than 300 publications, more than 40 years of continuous NIH funding and numerous research grants from the Department of Defense, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and others. His body of work has elucidated our understanding of viral receptors and entry to host responses and he was widely recognized as an expert on influenza. His record of service to our academic health sciences center included nearly a decade on the UMass Memorial Board of Trustees.”
Learn more: Tufts’ Dr. Helen Boucher remembers Dr. Finberg’s impact on career: