Paul Ehrlich

The first biography about the founder of chemotherapy on a source-critical basis. Paul Ehrlich is considered one of the most important life scientists of the 19th and 20th centuries. His research touched on aspects of histology and colour chemistry, haematology, pharmacology, immunology and cancer research. In 1908, he received the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his immunological work. With chemotherapy, based on his side-chain theory, he designed his own field of research at the interface between medicine, chemistry and biology. His fame as a "benefactor of mankind" was immortalised with the development of salvarsan - the first systematically developed chemotherapeutic agent against syphilis. Axel C. Hüntelmann follows Ehrlich's scientific career, his winding path through life. He shows how Ehrlich was able to accomplish his impressive life's work by establishing an extensive network and rationally organising his work.