Paul Ehrlich (1854–1915) was a German physician and scientist renowned for pioneering work in hematology, immunology, and chemotherapy. His discoveries revolutionized medical diagnostics and treatment, earning him the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Born in Strehlen, Prussia (now Strzelin, Poland,) he studied medicine at Breslau, Strasbourg, Freiburg, and Leipzig, earning a doctorate in 1878. His early research on cell staining techniques advanced blood cell differentiation and disease diagnosis.
His key contributions include the side-chain theory (1897,) explaining immune response mechanisms, and arsphenamine (Salvarsan, 1909,) the first effective syphilis treatment, marking chemotherapy’s inception. He also helped standardize diphtheria therapeutic serums. Ehrlich founded the Paul Ehrlich Institute (1896,) now a leading biomedical research center.
Notable works include Beiträge zur Theorie und Praxis der histologischen Färbung (1878, Contributions to the Theory and Practice of Histological Staining,) Die experimentelle Chemotherapie der Spirillosen (1909, Experimental Chemotherapy of Spirochetes,) and Die Aufgaben der Chemotherapie (1914, The Tasks of Chemotherapy,) all shaping modern medical research.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Paul Ehrlich
The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts.
—Paul Ehrlich
Topics: Science, Scientists
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