Contents
Emil von Behring
Developing serum treatment against diphtheria, earning the first Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Diphtheria serum · Die Blutserumtherapie
- Born
- 15 March 1854
- Birthplace
- Hansdorf, Prussia
- Died
- 31 March 1917
More people
Emil von Behring
Emil von Behring was a German medical researcher whose work helped turn immune blood serum into a treatment for infectious disease. He collaborated with Kitasato Shibasaburō on early antitoxin research.
Early life
Large family
His father was a schoolmaster, and the family had limited means.
Military medical training
Studied at Berlin's military medical academy, which offered an affordable route into medicine.
Career
- 1878
Army doctor
Began medical service after his training in Berlin.
- 1890
Antitoxin research
Published foundational work with Kitasato on immunity against diphtheria and tetanus.
- 1895
Marburg professor
Became professor of hygiene at Marburg.
- 1901
First medicine Nobel
Received the inaugural prize for serum therapy.
Contributions
Diphtheria serum
Helped develop antitoxin treatment against a major killer of children.
Die Blutserumtherapie
Published an account of blood-serum treatment.
Preventive immunisation
Announced a toxin-antitoxin mixture intended to produce protection against diphtheria.
Beyond the lab
Family
Married Else Spinola in 1896; the couple had six sons.
Capri connection
Owned a villa on Capri that later housed the writer Maxim Gorky.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Nobel biography ↗Photo: Fritz Schuhmann, Hofphotograph Bad Kissingen. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
