Harald zur Hausen

Harald zur Hausen (born March 11, 1936) is a prominent German virologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for his discovery of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of cervical cancer.

Early Life and Education

Zur Hausen was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. He studied Medicine at the Universities of Bonn, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf, and completed his medical degree in 1960.

Career

After completing his medical degree, zur Hausen began his career as a researcher at the Institute for Microbiology in Düsseldorf. He later moved to the United States where he worked at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

In 1972, zur Hausen returned to Germany to take up a position as the head of the department of virology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. In 1983, he became the Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, a position he held until his retirement in 2003.

Research and Achievements

Zur Hausen's most significant contribution to medical science is his discovery of the role of HPV in the development of cervical cancer. His research, which began in the early 1980s, led to the development of a vaccine against HPV, which has significantly reduced the incidence of cervical cancer worldwide.

In addition to his work on HPV, zur Hausen has also conducted important research on the Epstein-Barr virus, which is associated with several types of cancer, including Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Awards and Honors

Zur Hausen has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to medical science. In addition to the Nobel Prize, he has been awarded the Robert Koch Prize, the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, and the Prince Mahidol Award. He is also a member of several prestigious scientific societies, including the National Academy of Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

See Also

• List of Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine
• History of cancer

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