Shibasaburo Kitasato

Bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato was born in 1853 in Oguni, Kumamoto, Japan. He made several key discoveries throughout his career: he successfully isolated tetanus bacillus and later the corresponding antitoxin; he isolated the bacterium which causes the plague at the same time as Alexandre Yersin; and his work with Emil von Behring on diphtheria and tetanus immunity in animals led to the development of serum therapy. In 1892, he established the Infectious Diseases Research Institute, and in 1914, when the institute came under government control, he established the Kitasato Institute for research. In 1916, he became the first president of the Japan Medical Association and in 1917, he founded the Keio University School of Medicine. He was awarded honorary fellowship for the role he played during WWI. He died 13 June 1931.