Erwin Nehr
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1991; Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany
Erwin Neher is a German biophysicist who is best known for his pioneering work on the development of patch clamp techniques, which are used to study the electrical properties of cells. He is currently a professor emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany. Neher's major research achievements include the development of the patch clamp technique, which allows researchers to study the electrical properties of individual cells by measuring the flow of ions across their membranes. This technique has had a major impact on the field of physiology and has led to a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying the transmission of nerve impulses and the regulation of ion channels. In recognition of his contributions to the field of biophysics, Neher was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1991, along with his colleague Bert Sakmann. He has also received numerous other awards and honors, including the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award and the Wolf Prize in Medicine.
