5 Most Important Medical Discoveries in History

2. Discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Year of Medical Discovery: 2008

Nobel Prize Winner: Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Luc Montagnier, and Harald zur Hausen

The discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the biggest developments of modern times in medical science. HIV is a causative agent of AIDS which is one of the biggest causes of death worldwide. In 2008, Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Luc Montagnier, and Harald zur Hausen were awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of HIV and ranks second on our list of the most important medical discoveries in history.