Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15-October 15 annually. This timeframe is significant as it commences with Independence Day anniversaries for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Chile. During this time, We Are Blood honors Hispanic pioneers, like César Milstein, who have improved blood science and patient care, and changed the trajectory for immunology.
Who is César Milstein?
Nobel Prize winner César Milstein was born in Argentina and made his education a priority. After graduating from the University of Buenos Aires with a Ph. D., he accepted a position with the National Institute of Microbiology in Buenos Aires. Milstein went on to earn another Ph.D. from Cambridge University and became a member of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England.
SIDE NOTE: The immune system is made up of cells, lymphocytes and antibodies that help the body eliminate infections. We have millions of different antibodies in our system. After a blood donation, the We Are Blood lab ensures that a donor’s blood samples are tested for things like blood type, antibodies, and infectious diseases.
Sometimes, a cell that grows a certain type of antibody can become abnormal and form a tumor. The study of antibodies and how viral infections, diseases, and even rheumatoid arthritis can be treated is where César Milstein comes in!
Milstein’s Work
Studying antibodies became Milstein’s life’s work, initially mastering how to produce specific antibodies reliably and efficiently. Later, in partnership with Georges Köhler and Niels K. Jerne, Milstein created a process to help diagnose and treat disease through the development of monoclonal antibodies.
While the discovery was a novelty in the 70’s, monoclonal antibodies are still relevant and used today in things like pregnancy tests, blood cell typing, and detection of viruses, pathogens, and bacterial diseases.
Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the way biologists view living organisms and their systems. Milstein, Köhler and Jerne were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1984.
Receiving over 15 other awards and honors within the medical field, Milstein’s discovery of the method to produce monoclonal antibodies reinvented the field of immunology, opening new opportunities for research, and thus, improving the quality of patient care. His achievements have also provided opportunities for aspiring Hispanic medical professionals to this day.
Growing Our Diverse Donor Community
This month, we celebrate these pioneers and encourage our fellow Central Texans to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month by growing our diverse donor community and scheduling an appointment to donate.