Ernst Boris Chain

Ernst Boris Chain
Born	(1906-06-19)19 June 1906 Berlin, Germany
Died	12 August 1979(1979-08-12) (aged 73) Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Nationality	German, British
Alma mater	Friedrich Wilhelm University, University of Cambridge
Known for	Co-discovery of penicillin
Awards	Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1945)
Scientific career
Fields	Biochemistry
Institutions	University of Oxford, Imperial College London

Ernst Boris Chain (19 June 1906 – 12 August 1979) was a German-born British biochemist, best known for his work on the development of penicillin. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945, along with Alexander Fleming and Howard Florey, for their roles in the discovery and development of penicillin.

Early Life and Education

Ernst Boris Chain was born in Berlin, Germany, to a Jewish family. He was the son of Margarete (née Eisner) and Michael Chain, a chemist and industrialist. Chain showed an early interest in science and pursued his studies at the Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin, where he obtained his degree in chemistry.

In 1933, with the rise of the Nazi regime, Chain emigrated to England due to the increasing persecution of Jews in Germany. He continued his studies at the University of Cambridge, where he worked on enzyme research.

Career and Research

In 1935, Chain joined the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at the University of Oxford, where he began his groundbreaking work on penicillin. Working alongside Howard Florey, Chain was instrumental in isolating and purifying penicillin, which had been discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 but had not been developed into a usable drug.

Chain's work involved the chemical analysis of penicillin and the development of methods to produce it in sufficient quantities for clinical use. This work was crucial during World War II, as penicillin became a vital antibiotic for treating wounded soldiers and combating bacterial infections.

Nobel Prize and Later Work

In 1945, Chain, along with Florey and Fleming, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to the development of penicillin. This recognition highlighted the importance of their work in the field of medicine and the impact of antibiotics on public health.

After the war, Chain continued his research in biochemistry and held various academic positions, including a professorship at Imperial College London. He also worked on the study of enzymes and the development of other antibiotics.

Personal Life

Chain became a British citizen in 1948. He married Anne Beloff, a fellow scientist, and they had three children. Chain was known for his dedication to science and his contributions to the field of biochemistry.

Legacy

Ernst Boris Chain's work on penicillin laid the foundation for the modern antibiotic era, saving countless lives and revolutionizing the treatment of bacterial infections. His contributions to science and medicine continue to be recognized and celebrated.

See Also

• Penicillin
• Alexander Fleming
• Howard Florey
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine