Gerhard Domagk was a biochemist who discovered sulfonamide therapy for bacterial infections. Prior to his work, only a few chemical compounds had been found effective against these infections, and most of these had serious side effects. Domagk was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1939 for this discovery, but the German government forced him to decline it. In 1947, he was awarded the Nobel Prize Medal. In presenting this award, Nanna Svartz of the Royal Caroline Institute said that Domagk's discovery "meant nothing less than a revolution in medicine." The introduction of sulfonamide therapy prior to World War II undoubtedly saved many thousands of lives.

Domagk was born October 30, 1895, in Lagow, Brandenburg, Germany, to Paul and Martha Reiner Domagk. His father was assistant headmaster of a school, and he sent his son to a grade school that specialized in the sciences. Domagk enrolled in the University of...