List Of Nobel Laureates In Physiology Or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel. It is awarded for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine that have greatly benefited mankind. Since its inception in 1901, the award has been presented to 222 laureates, with 12 women among them.
1901: Emil von Behring
Emil von Behring was the first person to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He was awarded the prize in recognition of his work on serum therapy, particularly its application against diphtheria.
1902: Ronald Ross
Ronald Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the transmission of malaria, a disease that had long been a scourge in many parts of the world. His discovery of the malaria parasite in the gut of the Anopheles mosquito paved the way for better understanding of the disease and its prevention.
1904: Ivan Pavlov
Ivan Pavlov was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on digestive physiology. He is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes, which demonstrated the role of the nervous system in the regulation of bodily functions.
1905: Robert Koch
Robert Koch was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on tuberculosis. He identified the bacterium responsible for the disease and developed a method for its cultivation, which paved the way for the development of a vaccine.
1908: Paul Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on immunity. He developed the concept of the “magic bullet,” a chemical agent that could selectively target and destroy disease-causing microbes in the body, without harming healthy tissue.
1911: Allvar Gullstrand
Allvar Gullstrand was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the optics of the eye. He developed a new method for measuring the refractive power of the eye, which revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
1913: Charles Richet
Charles Richet was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. He discovered that the body could produce an immune response to a harmless substance, such as food or medication, and that this response could become harmful over time.
1923: Frederick Banting and John Macleod
Frederick Banting and John Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Their work transformed the treatment of diabetes, a disease that had previously been fatal.
1932: Charles Scott Sherrington and Edgar Adrian
Charles Scott Sherrington and Edgar Adrian were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the nervous system. They discovered the role of the synapse, a gap between nerve cells, in the transmission of nerve impulses.
1945: Sir Alexander Fleming, Ernst Boris Chain, and Sir Howard Walter Florey
Sir Alexander Fleming, Ernst Boris Chain, and Sir Howard Walter Florey were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on penicillin, the first antibiotic. Their discovery revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections, which had previously been a major cause of death.
1952: Selman Waksman
Selman Waksman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on antibiotics. He discovered several antibiotics, including streptomycin, which was the first effective treatment for tuberculosis.
1962: Francis Crick, James Watson, and Maurice Wilkins
Francis Crick, James Watson, and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of the structure of DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms. Their work laid the foundation for the field of molecular biology.
1978: Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans, and Hamilton Smith
Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans, and Hamilton Smith were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on restriction enzymes, which are enzymes that cut DNA at specific locations. Their discovery revolutionized the field of genetics, allowing scientists to manipulate and study DNA in new ways.
1984: Niels K. Jerne, Georges J.F. Köhler, and César Milstein
Niels K. Jerne, Georges J.F. Köhler, and César Milstein were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the immune system. They developed monoclonal antibodies, which are laboratory-made molecules that can recognize and target specific cells or molecules in the body.
1990: Joseph E. Murray and E. Donnall Thomas
Joseph E. Murray and E. Donnall Thomas were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on organ transplantation. Murray performed the first successful kidney transplant in 1954, while Thomas developed new methods for preventing organ rejection.
2008: Harald zur Hausen
Harald zur Hausen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that can cause cervical cancer. His discovery led to the development of a vaccine that can prevent HPV infection and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.
2015: William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura
William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on parasitic infections. They discovered a new class of drugs, called avermectins, that can kill parasitic worms and are used to treat diseases such as river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.
Conclusion
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to some of the most brilliant minds in science, whose discoveries have transformed the way we understand and treat diseases. From the discovery of insulin to the development of monoclonal antibodies, these laureates have made invaluable contributions to medicine and the well-being of humanity.