Description

Róbert Bárány (1876-1936) hungarian descent, was an Austrian doctor and university professor. He received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1914 for his groundbreaking research on the inner ear.

Despite contracting tuberculosis as a child, which left his knee joint permanently stiff, he pursued a successful career in medicine. Bárány's interest in the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear led to the development of the caloric test, a diagnostic tool still used today.
This test involves irrigating the ear canal with warm or cold water to induce nystagmus, a response that helps assess vestibular function. His work elucidated the physiological mechanisms underlying balance and spatial orientation.
During World War I, despite his disability, Bárány volunteered for frontline medical service and was eventually captured by the Russians and held as a prisoner of war.
After the war, he faced professional challenges in his native Austria and eventually settled in Sweden, where he continued his research and teaching.

In addition to the Nobel Prize, he received several other prestigious awards for his work. Bárány's discoveries revolutionized the understanding and treatment of inner ear disorders and laid the foundation for modern vestibular science.

Engraver: Fanni Vékony