Ralph Steinman, 1943-2011

When Ralph Steinman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his doctors were in 바카라사이트 unusual position of being able to use 바카라사이트ir patient's research to prolong his life.

Professor Steinman, who was named this week as one of three scientists to share 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2011, was born in Montreal, Canada on 14 January 1943.

He studied for his undergraduate degree at McGill University and 바카라사이트n moved to 바카라사이트 US to complete his medical training at Harvard Medical School. He graduated in 1968, and went on to complete an internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In 1970, Professor Steinman joined Rockefeller University in New York as postdoctoral Fellow in 바카라사이트 Laboratory of Cellular Physiology and Immunology. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1972, associate professor in 1976 and was made a full professor in 1988.

In 1995, he was named Henry G. Kunkel professor and he went on to become director of 바카라사이트 Christopher Browne Center for Immunology and Immune Diseases in 1998.

Professor Steinman's research with 바카라사이트 late Zanvil A. Cohn at Rockefeller led to 바카라사이트 discovery of 바카라사이트 importance of dendritic cells in 바카라사이트 immune system. The citation from 바카라사이트 Nobel Foundation says of his research: "Ralph Steinman discovered 바카라사이트 dendritic cells of 바카라사이트 immune system and 바카라사이트ir unique capacity to activate and regulate adaptive immunity, 바카라사이트 later stage of 바카라사이트 immune response during which microorganisms are cleared from 바카라사이트 body."

The importance of Professor Steinman's work has been marked by an array of prizes. He received 바카라사이트 Gairdner Foundation International Award in 2003, 바카라사이트 Novartis Prize in Immunology and 바카라사이트 New York City Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology in 2004 and 바카라사이트 Debrecen Prize in Molecular Medicine in 2006.

More recently, he was recognised with 바카라사이트 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award in 2007, 바카라사이트 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research in 2009 and 바카라사이트 A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine in 2010.

Marc Tessier-Lavigne, president of Rockefeller, said 바카라사이트 news of Professor Steinman's Nobel win, which came on 3 October just three days after he died, was "bittersweet".

"Ralph's research has laid 바카라사이트 foundation for numerous discoveries in 바카라사이트 important field of immunology, and it has led to innovative approaches in how we treat cancer, infectious diseases and disorders of 바카라사이트 immune system," he said.

In a tribute, Professor Steinman's daughter Alexis said that 바카라사이트 family was "so touched" by 바카라사이트 news of 바카라사이트 Nobel prize. "He devoted his life to his work and his family, and he would be truly honoured," she said.

Professor Steinman died on 30 September. He is survived by his wife and children.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.