Michael Heidelberger

Michael Heidelberger was a prominent American immunologist, born in 1888 and passing away in 1991. His work significantly contributed to the field of immunology, earning him recognition as the father of modern immunology. Heidelberger's research, particularly his collaboration with Oswald Avery, led to the discovery that the polysaccharides of pneumococcus act as antigens. This breakthrough enabled him to demonstrate that antibodies are proteins, a finding that greatly advanced the understanding of immunology.

Heidelberger spent a considerable portion of his career at Columbia University, and later, he held a faculty position at New York University. Throughout his career, he received numerous prestigious awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1934 and 1936. He was also honored with the National Medal of Science in 1967 and the Lasker Award for basic medical research, which he received twice, in 1953 and 1978. His contributions to the field of immunology are further preserved through his papers, which are archived at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.