In Memoriam - Professor Karl Julius Ullrich#
Eberhard Frömter
Professor Karl Julius Ullrich, a Member of the Section Physiology and Medicine of the Academia Europaea since 1989, died on August 2, 2010 at the age of 84, following a heart attack. He was an inspiring scientist of global standing and highest international esteem. Karl was born in 1925 in Würzburg, where he also completed his medical studies in 1951. In only 16 years his scientific career led from post-doc at the University of Marburg, to lecturer at the University of Göttingen, to Professor at the Free University of Berlin and eventually to Director at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt/Main from which he retired in 1993.
By devising techniques that allowed the transport mechanisms of renal tubules to be studied in detail and applying them in collaboration with scientists from all over the world, he laid a foundation for our present understanding of renal tubular function and for the continuing research efforts that are directed towards identifying the transport functions at the molecular level. Karl has received numerous honours and distinctions, the most prestigious ones being listed in two obituaries which have been published very recently1,2. Passing away Karl has left a rich legacy in Renal Physiology which will persist and his life and work will remain a source of inspiration for all those, co-workers, colleagues, and friends that had the privilege of getting to know him.
References.
- G. Burckhardt and H. Murer in: Mitteilungen Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nephrologie 2010, Nr. 3, pp 22-23
- K. Beyenbach and E. Fromter in: The Physiologist, Vol 53, Nr. 5, pp 186-187, October 2010).
