Michael Sela

Professor Michael Sela was the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors, Past President, and Institute Professor of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research centered on the molecular basis of antigenicity, development of synthetic polypeptide antigens crucial in the discovery of the determinant-specific genetic control of the immune response, leading to synthetic vaccines against infectious and autoimmune diseases. He conducted research on the development of a polymeric drug-vaccine against multiple sclerosis, prototype of the concept of specificity in vaccines against cancer and autoimmune diseases. He received the Israel Prize, Otto Warburg Medal, Rothschild Prize, Emil von Behring Prize, Gairdner Foundation Award, Institut de la Vie Prize, Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit Award, Officier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’honneur, Albert Einstein Golden Medal, Interbrew-Baillet Latour Health Prize, and Wolf Prize.