Howard Florey

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Howard Florey

Howard Florey (pronounced: HOW-ard FLOR-ee) was an Australian pharmacologist and pathologist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Sir Ernst Boris Chain and Sir Alexander Fleming for his role in the making of penicillin.

Etymology

The name 'Howard Florey' is of English origin. 'Howard' is an old English name meaning 'high guard', while 'Florey' is a surname of Norman origin, derived from the Old French 'flori', meaning 'flower'.

Early Life and Education

Howard Walter Florey was born on 24 September 1898 in Adelaide, South Australia. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide before winning a Rhodes Scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford in 1921.

Career

In 1935, Florey was appointed Professor of Pathology at the University of Oxford, where he began to investigate the properties of lysozyme, a natural antibacterial agent found in tears and nasal mucus. This led him to the discovery of penicillin, the world's first antibiotic.

Penicillin

Florey's work on penicillin began in earnest in 1938 when he and his team at Oxford carried out the first clinical trials of the drug. Despite the challenges posed by World War II, Florey and his colleagues were able to produce enough penicillin to treat a small number of patients.

Legacy

Florey's work has had a profound impact on medicine, saving countless lives. His contribution to the development of penicillin has been described as one of the greatest achievements in the history of medicine.

Related Terms

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