Karl Paul Link

Karl Paul Gerhard Link (January 31, 1901 – November 21, 1978) was an American biochemist best known for his discovery of the anticoagulant warfarin.

Training and early career Link was born in LaPorte, Indiana to a Lutheran minister of German descent as one of ten children. He was schooled locally, and attended the University of Wisconsin, where he studied agricultural chemistry at the College of Agriculture from 1918 to 1925, obtaining an MS in 1923 and a PhD in 1925.

He was then chosen by the National Education Board for a postdoctoral scholarship, and relocated to Europe. He briefly worked with carbohydrate chemist Sir James Irvine at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and from 1926 in Graz, Austria with Fritz Pregl, inventor of microchemistry and Nobel laureate. Finally he spent several months with organic chemist and future Nobel laureate Paul Karrer in the latter's lab in Zurich; during this period Link had tuberculosis, requiring recuperation in Davos. After his return from Europe, he acquired his taste for dressing eccentrically, as he was often seen in large bow ties, flannel shirts, and sometimes a cape.

He was offered an assistant professorship at the University of Wisconsin in 1927, and was promoted to associate professor in 1928. He worked initially on plant carbohydrates and resistance to disease. He married Elizabeth Feldman on September 20, 1930; they had three sons. Link and researchers Stahmann and Ikawa jointly owned the patent. Initially marketed as rat poison, in the 1950s, warfarin became the second most important anticoagulant for clinical use (after heparin).

Later years Link was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1946. He received several awards for his work, including the 1955 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research and the 1960 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research. He remained closely involved in the biochemistry of warfarin and related compounds.

His work in later years was hampered by poor health (tuberculosis) as he was then relocated to Lake View Sanatorium, and upon his return was never able to fully regain his momentum in research. Nevertheless, he remained a full professor until 1971, when he retired. He was a lifelong pioneer of liberal causes, and his wife was active in the pacifist movement.

Link died from heart failure on November 21, 1978.