Ernst Chain

19 June 1906 – 12 August 1979

Sir Ernst Boris Chain was a German-born British biochemist who, with Howard Florey, isolated and purified penicillin and demonstrated its therapeutic value. He shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Florey and Alexander Fleming. He later worked on penicillin's chemistry and directed research in Rome and at Imperial College London.

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Life events

Born in Berlin, German Empire
19 June 1906

Born into a Jewish family; his father was an industrial chemist.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Graduated in chemistry from the University of Berlin
1930

Studied chemistry and physiology at Friedrich Wilhelm University.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Emigrated to England
1933

Left Nazi Germany and settled in Britain to continue research.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined Howard Florey's team at Oxford
1935

Began work at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Isolated and purified penicillin
1940

Worked out methods to purify penicillin and demonstrate its therapeutic effect.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
1945

Shared the prize with Fleming and Florey for the discovery of penicillin.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Directed biochemistry research in Rome
1948 – 1961

Headed the international research centre for chemical microbiology at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed Professor of Biochemistry at Imperial College London
1961

Returned to Britain to lead biochemistry at Imperial College.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Ireland
12 August 1979

Died at Castlebar, County Mayo, at the age of 73.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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