Next seminar at Finsen Laboratory

EARLY 1900 PIONEERS IN CANCER RESEARCH: THE UNTOLD STORY.

By professor Ole Lærum.

The lecturer is professor of pathology at the University of Bergen and visiting scientist at the Finsen laboratory.
He has published several articles and books on different topics in the history of medicine.

Abstract:
Around the turn of the 20th century was a period when cancer research
expanded rapidly. Through the establishment of the cellular pathology
by Johannes Müller and Rudolf Virchow, it was recognised that cancer was due to rapid proliferation and spread of deviating cells.
Different tumours were classified according to their tissue of origin, and the process of invasion and metastasis was studied systematically.
Cancer researchers, such as Paul Ehrlich and Oluf Jensen started to transplant malignant tumours on mice, and the field of tissue culture of normal cells was started by Alexis Carrel. At this period, several crucial discoveries, such as virus-induced cancers, chemical carcinogens and culture of malignant cells were made. The lecture is a survey of concepts and methods in the early days of cancer research :
What did they do, and how did they think? The lecture is based on a large, partly unpublished historical material. Several Danish scientists have made important contributions to the study and understanding of the malignant process, which will also be dealt with.

When:
Friday 27. november 2009 at 3 pm

Where:
Finsen Laboratory
Copenhagen Biocenter
Ole Maaløes vej 5
2200 Copenhagen N
Building 1, 2nd floor, room 03 (meeting room on the 2nd floor)