Research

Research Priorities: Experimental immunology, immune system, virus-infected cells, T-cells, virus antigens, MHC complexes

Rolf Zinkernagel is a Swiss physician and immunologist. He decoded the basic mechanisms of immune defence. For his discovery of how T-cells recognise virus-infected host cells, he was awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine together with the Australian veterinarian Peter Doherty. In addition, Rolf Zinkernagel carried out a range of traditional studies on the function of the thymus and the simultaneously protective and pathogenic effect of T-cells.

Together with Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinknagel investigated the question as to which mechanisms lead to organ rejection after a transplant. In experiments on mice infected with the meningitis virus they were able to show that when an organ is rejected after transplant the immune system mobilises as it would in the event of a viral infection. Specific antigens, known as major histocompatibility antigens, play a key role in both processes. They are present on the cell surface and tell the immune system that the transplanted organ is a foreign part that has to be fought against. Both researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize for this discovery.

Zinkernagel’s work was committed to both research policy and experimental research. On the European and Swiss Scientific Councils, for example, he was involved with grants for outstanding scientists.

Career

• since 2008 Professor Emeritus
• 1992-2008 Full Professor and Director, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1979-1992 Adjunct Distinguished Professor, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1976-1979 Professor, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA
• 1975 Doctorate and Habilitation, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
• 1970-1973 Research Assistant, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 1970 Completed Doctorate to become Dr. med., University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
• 1962-1968 Degree in Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland