Professor Harald zur Hausen (11 March 1936–28 May 2023)

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Harald zur Hausen at the age of 87.

Professor zur Hausen was a global leader in cancer research throughout his career and also after his retirement. His major achievement was his work on human papillomavirus (HPV) causing cancer. His initial hypothesis, published in 1976, was later epidemiologically and experimentally confirmed, leading to what is now a global initiative to eliminate cervical cancer. For this work on HPV causing cervical cancer, Professor zur Hausen received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008, followed by numerous awards from universities, cancer organizations, and charities.

He was born in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, in 1936 and studied medicine at the universities of Bonn, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf, where he received his doctoral degree in 1960. He received his qualification for professorship (“Habilitation”) from the University of Würzburg in 1969. After also working in Erlangen-Nuremberg and in Freiburg, he was appointed as Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg in 1983. He retired from that position in 2003.

Especially during his time at DKFZ, Professor zur Hausen worked closely with IARC. He was a member of the IARC Scientific Council from 1988 to 1991. After his retirement, he continued to collaborate with individual researchers at the Agency and he contributed to IARC’s World Cancer Report 2014.

Professor zur Hausen is survived by his wife, Professor Ethel-Michele de Villiers, and by his three sons. IARC conveys its deepest condolences to Professor zur Hausen’s family and friends.