Herman Waldmann facts for kids
Herman Waldmann, born on February 27, 1945, is a famous British scientist. He is an immunologist, which means he studies the body's immune system and how it fights off sickness. He is well-known for his important work with special medicines called monoclonal antibodies. These medicines help treat diseases. As of 2013, he is a respected professor at the University of Oxford.
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Herman Waldmann's Journey in Science
Herman Waldmann grew up in London, England. He went to school at Sir George Monoux Grammar School and then studied at Cambridge University.
Studying the Immune System
After his studies, Waldmann started working at the University of Cambridge in 1973. He became the head of the Immunology Division there in 1989. Immunology is the study of how your body protects itself from germs and diseases.
In 1994, he moved to the University of Oxford. There, he became the head of the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. He also became a fellow at Lincoln College.
Discovering New Treatments
Professor Waldmann's main research has been about something called immunological tolerance. Imagine your body's immune system as a police force. Sometimes, this police force makes a mistake and attacks your own body parts. This is called an autoimmune disease. Immunological tolerance is about teaching the immune system not to attack healthy parts of the body.
He is most famous for his work on special medicines called monoclonal antibodies. These are like very smart "guided missiles" that can target specific cells in the body. He used these antibodies to help the immune system learn tolerance.
One of his biggest discoveries is a medicine called Campath-1. This medicine is now known as Lemtrada. It is used to treat a serious disease called Multiple Sclerosis. This is a condition where the immune system attacks the nerves.
Awards and Recognitions
Professor Waldmann has received many important awards for his scientific work.
- In 1990, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honour for scientists in the United Kingdom.
- In 1998, he helped start the Academy of Medical Sciences.
- In 2005, he received the Jose Carreras award and the Excellence in Clinical Research Award.
- In 2007, he was given the Thomas E Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology.
- In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge University.
- In 2010, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
- In 2023, he was awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society.
He is also an honorary member of the British Society for Immunology.
