[Hope-Simpson and shingles]

Dr Robert Edgar Hope-Simpson (1908-2003) was a British general practitioner, who has laid the foundation for unravelling the pathogenesis of shingles. At the beginning of the 20th century, both conditions were known to be related, but the precise relationship was unclear. It was assumed that chickenpox could originate after infection by both a person with shingles or someone with chickenpox, but that both diseases were caused by different viruses. Through rigorous observations in his GP practice and during his field work on the island of Yell, Hope-Simpson developed his hypothesis about the - now scientifically accepted - pathogenesis of shingles. Hope-Simpson's work shows how accurate observations can lead to unexpected new insights and hypotheses.