The quality of life for millions of people all over the globe has been improved by the work of diligent biologists and doctors working in the many branches of life science. An improved knowledge of how the body functions at the genetic, cellular, physiological and behavioural levels and a greater understanding of disease and pharmacology have resulted in a reduction in human suffering. The way is being paved for the effective treatment of some of the greatest health problems of the late twentieth century ? cancer, AIDS and diseases caused by parasites.These two volumes are collections of the Nobel Lectures delivered by the laureates, together with their biographies, portraits and the presentation speeches for the periods 1971 ? 1980 and 1981 ? 1990 respectively. Each Nobel Lecture is based on the work for which the laureate was awarded the prize. New biographical data of the laureate are also included. These volumes of inspiring lectures by outstanding scientists should be on the bookshelf of every keen student, teacher and professor of biological and medical sciences as well as of those in related fields.During the period 1971 ? 1980 important areas of research being recognized were as diverse as hormone action and radioimmunoassays, infectious diseases, molecular genetics, immunology, computerized tomography and social behaviour. The laureates according to the specific year are: (1971) E W SUTHERLAND JR ? for his discoveries concerning the mechanisms of the action of hormones; (1972) G M EDELMAN & R R PORTER ? for their discoveries concerning the chemical structure of antibodies; (1973) K VON FRISCH, K LORENZ & N TINBERGEN ? for their discoveries concerning organization and elicitation of individual and social behaviour patterns; (1974) A CLAUDE, C DE DUVE & G E PALADE ? for their discoveries concerning the structural and functional organization of the cell; (1975) D BALTIMORE, R DULBECCO & H M TEMIN ? for their discoveries concerning the interaction between tumour viruses and genetic material of the cell; (1976) B S BLUMBERG & D C GAJDUSEK ? for their discoveries concerning new mechanisms for the origin and dissemination of infectious diseases; (1977) R GUILLEMIN & A V SCHALLY ? for their discoveries concerning the peptide hormone production of the brain; and R S YALOW ? for the development of radioimmunoassays of peptide hormones; (1978) W ARBER, D NATHANS & H O SMITH ? for the discovery of restriction enzymes and their application to problems of molecular genetics; (1979) A M CORMACK & G N HOUNSFIELD ? for the development of computer assisted tomography; (1980) B BENACERRAF, J DAUSSET & G D SNELL ? for their discoveries concerning genetically determined structures on the cell surface that regulate immunological reactions.

During the period 1981 ? 1990, important areas of research being recognized were visual information processing, monoclonal antibodies, pharmacology, molecular biology and transplantation. The laureates according to the specific year are: (1981) R W SPERRY ? for his discoveries concerning the functional specialization of the cerebral hemispheres; D H HUBEL & T N WIESEL ? for their discoveries concerning information processing in the visual system; (1982) S K BERGSTR™M, B I SAMUELSSON & J R VANE ? for their discoveries concerning prostaglandins and related biologically active substances; (1983) B McCLINTOCK ? for her discovery of mobile genetic elements; (1984) N K JERNE, G J F K™HLER & C MILSTEIN ? for theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies; (1985) M S BROWN & J L GOLDSTEIN ? for their discoveries concerning the regulation of cholesterol metabolism; (1986) S COHEN & R LEVI-MONTALCINI ? for their discoveries of growth factors; (1987) S TONEGAWA ? for his discovery of the genetic principle for generation of antibody diversity; (1988) J W BLACK, G B ELION & G H HITCHINGS ? for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment; (1989) J M BISHOP & H E VARMUS ? for their discovery of the cellular origin of retroviral oncogenes; (1990) J E MURRAY & E D THOMAS ? for their discoveries concerning organ and cell transplantation in the treatment of human disease.

This book brings together in one volume fifteen Nobel Prize-winning discoveries that have had the greatest impact upon medical science and the practice of medicine during the 20th century and up to the present time. Its overall aim is to enlighten, entertain and stimulate. This is especially so for those who are involved in or contemplating a career in medical research. Anyone interested in the particulars of a specific award or Laureate can obtain detailed information on the topic by accessing the Nobel Foundation''s website. In contrast, this book aims to provide a less formal and more personal view of the science and scientists involved, by having prominent academics write a chapter each about a Nobel Prize-winning discovery in their own areas of interest and expertise.

The Nobel Prize is by far the highest recognition a scientist may receive and the only one with which the general public is familiar. Its prestige has reached improbable heights. At the same time a lot of myth surrounds the Nobel Prize, and this is compounded by the fact that people tend to view scientists with some bewilderment. This book introduces the process of selection of the laureates, discusses the ingredients for scientific discovery and for getting recognition. It reviews the decisive moments of scientific careers en route to the Nobel Prize, points to characteristic features of the laureates, the importance of mentors and venues in scientific careers and other components of success. It also covers some discoverers and discoveries for whom and for which the Nobel Prize never materialized. Whereas there is no general recipe for receiving the Nobel Prize, there are common features of successful scientific careers. The book reveals some information about the scientists' lives and careers that may guide other scientists in increasing their chances of becoming more effective and better recognized players--although it is not expected to help anyone to receive the Nobel Prize! For the general reader The Road to Stockholm reveals the human face of scientists and the human side of their endeavours. The Nobel Prize has served as inspiration for scientists and the general public for a hundred years: this book discusses its problems and celebrates its triumphs.