Ralph Steinman

Ralph Marvin Steinman (January 14, 1943 – September 30, 2011) was a Canadian physician and medical researcher at Rockefeller University, who in 1973 discovered and named dendritic cells while working as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Zanvil A. Cohn, also at Rockefeller University. Steinman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011 for his discovery of dendritic cells and their role in adaptive immunity. The Nobel Prize was awarded to him posthumously, as he had died three days prior to the announcement.

Early life and education

Steinman was born on January 14, 1943, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was the youngest of three children. His parents, Irving Steinman and Nettie Steinman, owned a haberdashery. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from McGill University in 1963 and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in 1968.

Career

After graduating from Harvard, Steinman worked as a clinical doctor for several years before deciding to focus on research. In 1970, he joined the laboratory of Zanvil A. Cohn at Rockefeller University as a postdoctoral fellow. It was here that he discovered dendritic cells in 1973.

Steinman spent his entire career at Rockefeller University, where he was the Henry G. Kunkel Professor and senior physician at The Rockefeller University Hospital. He also served as the head of the Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology at Rockefeller University.

Research

Steinman's most significant contribution to science was his discovery of dendritic cells in the human immune system. These cells play a crucial role in the body's defense against infections and diseases. They are responsible for activating the body's adaptive immunity, which allows the immune system to respond more effectively to pathogens it has encountered before.

Death and legacy

Steinman died on September 30, 2011, from pancreatic cancer. He had been using a therapy based on his own research into dendritic cells, but it was not enough to save his life. Despite his death, his work continues to have a significant impact on the field of immunology.

Awards and honors

Steinman received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011, which was awarded to him posthumously. Other awards include the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2007 and the Canada Gairdner International Award in 2003.

External links

• Nobel Prize Biography of Ralph M. Steinman

Ralph Steinman Resources
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