180th Anniversary of Ilya Mechnikov’s Birth: Karazin University Honors the Legacy of a Great Scientist

On May 15, 2025, we celebrate the 180th anniversary of the birth of Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov — a world-renowned biologist, immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate, and a source of pride for Karazin University. His name is forever inscribed in the history of global science as a founder of microbiology and the creator of immunology.

Ilya Mechnikov was born on May 15, 1845, in the village of Ivanivka (now Mechnykove village in Kharkiv region). In 1862, he enrolled at Kharkiv University (now Karazin University). Professor Ivan Shchelkov played a crucial role in shaping the future scientist’s path, as it was thanks to him that Mechnikov became a student of the Department of Biology at the School of Physics and Mathematics, rather than the School of Medicine, as his mother, Emilia Lvovna, had wished.

Mechnikov completed the course of study in just two years instead of four — his exceptional diligence and thirst for knowledge distinguished him from an early age. At Karazin University, he began his journey into microscopic anatomy and embryology, which later led to the discovery of phagocytosis — a phenomenon that became the foundation of the cellular theory of immunity. For this discovery, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908, alongside Paul Ehrlich.

Ilya Ilyich was not only a pioneering scientist but also a humanist. His scientific endeavors were aimed at fighting infectious diseases, improving quality of life, and extending human lifespan. His work on probiotics and longevity is still considered groundbreaking even by today’s standards.

Karazin University is proud of its outstanding alumnus, whose scientific legacy not only transformed our understanding of the human body but also paved the way for future generations of doctors, biologists, and scientists around the world.

Today, as we commemorate the 180th anniversary of Ilya Mechnikov’s birth, we not only recall his outstanding contributions to science but are also inspired by his life — a life devoted to science, driven by curiosity, and dedicated to serving humanity.

A world-renowned name that began at Karazin University. We are proud and we remember.