Erlanger Family Gifts Renowned Physiologist’s Nobel Medal to APS

Rockville, Md. (April, 9, 2025)-The family of Joseph Erlanger, MD, a renowned physiologist and Nobel laureate, has gifted his Nobel Prize medal to the American Physiological Society (APS), where he spent much of his scientific career advancing physiological research. This significant contribution honors Erlanger's groundbreaking contributions to science and celebrates APS' role in advancing discovery and fostering collaboration in physiology.

Erlanger received the 1944 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Herbert Gasser, MD, for their pioneering research on the conduction of nerve impulses. Their work revealed how the speed of nerve signal transmission varies depending on fiber diameter, a discovery that laid the foundation for advancements in neuroscience and medicine.

"It has been a great honor for my family to have stewardship of his Nobel medal and diploma since his passing, and it's our honor to pass it on to APS," says Dorothy Erlanger, his granddaughter. "There's no better home for it than with APS, an organization of tremendous importance to my grandfather."

Erlanger, who served as APS president from 1926 to 1927, was an integral part of the Society's history of supporting innovation and connecting researchers across disciplines. His Nobel medal will be displayed at APS headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, as a lasting symbol of his legacy and of APS' commitment to fostering scientific advancement.

The medal will be featured at the upcoming American Physiology Summit, April 24-27 in Baltimore. The display will be part of APS' efforts to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists by showcasing the impact of physiological research on society.

Founded in 1887, APS is a global leader in expanding knowledge of biological function. The Society connects scientists and educators from around the world, spotlighting advances that address life's most pressing questions. By housing Erlanger's Nobel medal, APS underscores its role as a steward of the history of physiology and an advocate for the field's future.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more in our Newsroom.

Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.