With the 1987 appointment Dr R.W. Goldbach (1950-2009) as Professor of Virology, virology research took on a more molecular slant, in particular research on the cowpea mosaic virus and the tomato spotted wilt virus. Under Goldbach’s leadership, the quality and international visibility of Wageningen virology research were greatly enhanced. Professor Goldbach died in 2009 following a fatal accident in the mountains of India.