Albert Claude

Facts

Albert Claude

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Albert Claude
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1974

Born: 24 August 1898, Longlier, Belgium

Died: 22 May 1983, Brussels, Belgium

Affiliation at the time of the award: Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain, Belgium

Prize motivation: "for their discoveries concerning the structural and functional organization of the cell."

Prize share: 1/3

Work

Our bodies are made up of cells that contain organelles, components with various functions. Around 1945 Albert Claude conducted a number of trailblazing studies of cellular components. He made use of the newly developed electron microscope, which enabled him to capture images with a level of detail not previously available. Albert Claude also developed methods for separating the various parts of pulverized cells with a centrifuge so they could be better studied. This also became a breakthrough for cell biology.

To cite this section
MLA style: Albert Claude – Facts. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2020. Sun. 26 Jan 2020. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1974/claude/facts/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Learn more

Nobel Prizes 2019

Fifteen laureates have been awarded this year, for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.

Their work and discoveries range from how cells adapt to changes in levels of oxygen to our ability to fight global poverty.

See them all presented here.
2019 Nobel Laureates

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.