Gerhard Domagk
Facts
Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.
Gerhard Domagk
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1939
Born: 30 October 1895, Lagow, Germany (now Poland)
Died: 24 April 1964, Burgberg, West Germany (now Germany)
Affiliation at the time of the award: Munster University, Munster, Germany
Prize motivation: “for the discovery of the antibacterial effects of prontosil”
Gerhard Domagk was caused by the authorities of his country to decline the award but he later received the diploma and the medal.
Prize share: 1/1
Work
During the 19th century doctors discovered that many diseases are caused by infections—attacks by microorganisms. This led to the search for chemical preparations to combat bacteria and other microorganisms. The challenge was long thought to be impossible, but in 1932 Gerhard Domagk and his colleagues demonstrated in mice experiments that sulfonamides could be used to counteract bacteria that cause blood poisoning. The discovery became the basis for a number of sulfa drugs—the first type of antibiotic.
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