1938, September 23rd  

Dear Karolinska Institutet, 

I would like to nominate Gerhard Domagk for the Nobel Prize in Medicine. I believe he is an appropriate candidate due to his ground-breaking medical discoveries that have saved thousands of lives. His work is simply astounding, and has had such an impact on medicine as to deserve this esteemed award. I personally believe that he is an excellent candidate for the prize. 

 

He was accepted as a medical student into the Kiel University, one of the most prestigious universities in Germany. He worked there for several years in total, and in 1921 he took his State Medical Examinations and graduated. During the course of his studies, he joined the army's Sanitary Service. He worked on research into creatin and creatinin, as well as some metabolic studies under myself and Professor Emmerich. He became a Lecturer of Pathological Anatomy at both Greifswald and Münster Universities. Overall, he has been accepted, as a student, lecturer or teacher, into some of the most reputed universities in Germany. 

 

He worked for I.G Farben beginning in 1927. There he discovered one of the most remarkable medicinal substances known to contemporary mankind; Prontosil Rubrum. The red dye was based on the azo types of dyes, however, one of the hydrogen atoms typically present was replaced by a  sulphonafide variant. After some time of research, they produced a chemical that had a weak effect on laboratory mice. They began to change the structure of the molecule, and eventually found a chemical with such effect on mice with advanced stages of infection as to be a miracle cure. The medicine was subsequently named Prontosil Rubrum. The level of dedication and perseverance was at an incredible level. It all paid off in the end though; producing an antibiotic of unparalleled proportions. 

 

He published his findings in 1935, and in the 3 years afterward he witnessed the drug cure countless diseases in humans, and save countless more lives. Since then, many more derivative drugs have been created, many with arguably better or specialised performance compared to Prontosil. Although it may only be useful for a short time into the future, I believe it was and is still one of the most important discoveries in modern times, due to its opening of an entirely new avenue of medical research; the study of antimicrobial chemicals for medical use. Who knows how many other wonders of medicine are sitting out there, waiting to be discovered? Truly, I believe he is a worthy Nobel Laureate. He is definitively one of the greatest medical professionals of our time. 

 

Yours Sincerely,  

Professor Ernest Hoppe-Seyler