Max Theiler

Max Theiler was born on January 30, 1899, in Pretoria, South Africa. He was the youngest son of Sir Arnold Theiler, a pioneering veterinary scientist in South Africa. Max would go on to study at the University of Cape Town and later in the United Kingdom, where he would begin his illustrious career in infectious diseases.

Max Theiler passed away on August 11, 1964, in New Haven, Connecticut. His death marked the end of a significant era in the field of virology. Theiler’s work, particularly on yellow fever, left a lasting legacy in medical science and public health, with his vaccine still in use today.

Around 1930, Max Theiler developed a keen interest in the yellow fever virus. He shifted his focus toward studying this virus, which was prevalent in various parts of the world. His dedication to understanding yellow fever ultimately led to his success in developing an effective vaccine against it.

In 1951, Max Theiler was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on yellow fever and the development of a highly effective vaccine. The award acknowledged his contributions to medicine and public health, particularly the impact of his vaccine in controlling yellow fever epidemics around the world.

After beginning his studies at Rhodes University, Max Theiler transferred to the University of Cape Town and completed his degree in medicine in 1922. This foundational education in medicine and science provided him the grounding needed to pursue advanced research in infectious diseases.

After obtaining a medical degree, Max Theiler pursued postgraduate studies at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Here, he deepened his understanding of infectious diseases, which laid the groundwork for his later achievements, such as his groundbreaking work on the yellow fever vaccine.

Max Theiler achieved a major breakthrough in 1937 with the development of a vaccine for yellow fever. Using the attenuated strain 17D, Theiler's vaccine was effective and safe, leading to its widespread use in combating yellow fever outbreaks. This accomplishment was a pivotal point in virology and had a significant impact on public health.

While studying yellow fever at the Harvard University School of Tropical Medicine, Max Theiler made significant discoveries regarding its transmission cycle. This work contributed to the understanding of how yellow fever spread, which was crucial for developing intervention strategies.

In 1930, Max Theiler joined the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, where he worked on yellow fever. His work there would eventually lead to the development of a successful vaccine for yellow fever. The Rockefeller Foundation provided the resources and environment for Theiler to conduct ground-breaking research on viruses.

In 1927, Max Theiler moved to the United States to further his research in infectious diseases, initially joining the Harvard University School of Tropical Medicine. During his time at Harvard, Theiler worked on various projects before ultimately focusing on the yellow fever virus.