Sir Peter Brian Medawar and the Genesis of Transplantation Immunology

Organ transplantation is now a regular practice, saving the lives of countless people across the world every single day. Even bone marrow replacement is becoming more accessible to people every year. However, advances in organ transplantation, even skin grafts, are relatively recent advancements in medical science. A few decades ago, such transplantations were mostly unsuccessful, with most attempts resulting in fatal graft rejection. Many brilliant biologists turned this around, leading to more successes. Sir Peter Brian Medawar was the one to start this revolution back in the 1950s. Known largely for his seminal contributions to the foundation of modern ‘Transplantation Immunology’, he was also, to many, a great inspiration, an embodiment of scientific temper, and one of the sharpest minds known.