Harald zur Hausen
Facts
© The Nobel Foundation. Photo: U. Montan
Harald zur Hausen
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2008
Born: 11 March 1936, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Died: 28 May 2023, Heidelberg, Germany
Affiliation at the time of the award: German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
Prize motivation: “for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer”
Prize share: 1/2
Work
The growth, division, and death of living cells are regulated by their genes. If these functions are out of balance, tumors can form. One reason for this may be the incorporation of virus genes into the genes of host cells. Harald zur Hausen demonstrated in 1983 that cervical cancer in humans is caused by certain types of papilloma viruses (wart viruses), the genes from which are incorporated into the host cells' DNA. This discovery made it possible to develop a vaccine against cervical cancer, which had been the second most common tumor disease in women.
Nobel Prizes and laureates
Six prizes were awarded for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. The 12 laureates' work and discoveries range from proteins' structures and machine learning to fighting for a world free of nuclear weapons.
See them all presented here.
