Johannes Fibiger (1867-1928) was a Danish bacteriologist and pathologist who made important research contributions to the study of diseases such as diphtheria, tuberculosis, and cancer, as well as important advances in clinical research methodology. He received the 1926 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research on parasites and cancer in rats.

At that time, Fibiger was believed to be the first person to induce cancer in a laboratory setting. It was later shown that he had not actually caused cancer in his sample of rats. Despite the fact that his award-winning finding was disproved, Fibiger made other important contributions to cancer research, particularly with respect to the role of individual predispositions in cancer development.

Early Life and Education

Johannes Andreas Grib Fibiger was born on April 23, 1867 in Silkeborg, Denmark. He was the second child born to Christian Fibiger, a local physician, and Elfride Muller, a writer. He...