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German virologist Harald zur Hausen proved that human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can cause cervical cancer. He laid the foundations for the development of a vaccine that now benefits millions of people around the world, and opened up a new dimension of cancer prevention. In 2008, zur Hausen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his achievements. He has died at the age of 87.
About 700,000 HPV-associated cancers occur each year worldwide. Thanks to zur Hausen’s research, a vaccine to prevent them has been available since 2006. More than 100 countries now include HPV vaccination in their immunization programmes, as recommended by the World Health Organization in pursuit of its goal of eradicating cervical cancer worldwide.
From 1983 to 2003, zur Hausen also steered and established the international reputation of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg. As its chair and scientific director, he implemented a policy of stringent international benchmarking and peer review, recruited outstanding scientists from all over the world and set up units that linked the DKFZ to the clinic.
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Born in Gelsenkirchen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, zur Hausen knew he wanted to be a natural scientist from a young age. He loved biology at school, although the first years of