Gustav Nossal

Austrian-Australian scientist and humanitarian who is world-renowned for his contributions to the field of immunology. Nossal’s discoveries regarding the formation of antibodies are instrumental in the continuing battle against infectious disease. He is the author of five books and hundreds of scientific articles.

Born in Austria, Nossal’s family moved to Australia in 1939. He studied medicine at the University of Sydney and did his residency at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He continued his education at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne where he earned his PhD. He was an Assistant Professor of Genetics at Stanford University in America for two years and spent a year at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. The majority of his career, however, was spent at the Hall Institute where, from 1965-96, he served as Director, and he was a Professor of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne. In 1996, he helped found "Foursight," a company specializing in scientific research and development.

Involved with numerous charitable organizations, Nossal was involved with the World Health Organization (WHO) for most of his career and worked diligently to improve global health. Beginning in 1993, he served as Chairman for the Global Program for Vaccines and Immunization. He was the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Albert Einstein World Award of Science, and in 1977, he was knighted. He was chosen Australian of the Year in 2000.