Kazimierz Funk (Funk Casimir)

(1884-1967)
Born February 23, 1884 in Warsaw. He graduated from the University of Bern, in 1904 received a Ph.D. in chemistry. He worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris (1904-1906), the University of Berlin (1906-1911), Listerovskom Institute in London (1911-1912). In 1915 he emigrated to the U.S.. He worked in private firms, then at Columbia University. In 1928-1936 - Consultant in Pharmacology in the pharmaceutical company is booming in Paris in 1936 - Scientific Consultant of the Institute of vitamins in New York from 1953 - President of the Science Foundation bearing his name (the fund Funk).
Funk, known primarily works in the field of vitaminology and chemistry of hormones. In 1912, scientists isolated from rice bran active substance, . which cured pigeons from polyneuritis - Diseases, . similar to beri-beri (now a substance known as thiamin, . or vitamin B1), . and another active compound, . now known as nicotinic acid, . or vitamin B3,
. For both substances Funk proposed the name 'vitamins' (from Vita - 'life' and amines - a group of chemical compounds, which belong to these substances). Introduced the term beriberi, has developed methods of prevention and treatment of avitaminosis. Synthesized the hormone adrenaline and the drug salvarsan (previously obtained by P. Ehrlich). Found that in the posterior pituitary hormone secreted two, not one as previously thought, researched the chemical composition of male and female sex hormones. He studied the relationship of vitamins, hormones, enzymes and trace elements. Showed that vitamins are part of many enzymes and contribute to their synthesis in the body. Improved method for industrial production of vitamin B12.

Funk died at Albany (pc. New York) November 20, 1967.