About

Sir Gustav J. V. Nossal

Sir Gustav J. V. Nossal is a prominent Australian biologist and immunologist. Born in Vienna in 1931, Nossal was forced to flee Austria with his family upon its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1939. He was a very successful student in his adopted homeland of Australia, receiving his degree in medicine from the University of Sydney. He then completed a research fellowship at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, where he was also to earn his PhD in 1960. Nossal remained with the Hall Institute until his retirement in 1996, serving as the Director of the Institute from 1965 onwards. He also served as Professor of Medical Biology at the University of Melbourne. He was knighted in 1977, and was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1989.

His primary area of interest and research has been in immunology, and has contributed much to the literature, including five monographs and over 500 articles. His most major contributions come from his studies of antibodies and immunological tolerance, the study of which acquainted him with Dr. Starzl. He was an important speaker at the First International Congress on FK 506, organized by Starzl and his colleagues in Pittsburgh in 1991. (Doc. 1) The two men struck up a correspondence, with Starzl seeking Nossal’s opinions on his papers that were beginning to have an increasing focus on transplant immunology. Nossal offered his opinions on several of Starzl’s key discoveries, including Starzl’s work with the ALR protein. (Doc. 2) However, the project that they collaborated most extensively on was one of Starzl’s most seminal works: the discovery and discussion of microchimerism. (Doc. 3) The paper, co-authored by Starzl and Swiss immunologist Rolf Zinkernagel, would eventually be published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1998. Nossal provided insight and feedback on many early drafts of the paper, lending his expertise and encouragement to the undertaking.

Through the years, the two men developed an affectionate relationship. Nossal wrote a glowing recommendation for Starzl that led to the latter’s receipt of the National Medal of Science, describing Starzl’s “legendary” energy and his “total selflessness.” (Doc. 4) Starzl’s gratitude for his colleague’s high opinion comes through in a letter written to Nossal after finding out about winning the award, writing, “The medal means a lot to me, but not nearly as much as the fact that you were willing to support the nomination. I really do not know how to adequately thank you for that, and for everything else you have done to make my late life better.” (Doc. 5)