Progress in the biological sciences has been remarkable during the past several decades. As the level of sophisticated knowledge expands it becomes difficult if not impossible for the individual investigator to master but a tiny segment of current biology. A consequence of this specialization is frequently the inability of scientists to communicate with colleagues in other disciplines. However, a few outstanding individuals persist in taking the renaissance approach to science. Professor Walter Brendel is the archetype for such a person. His wide interests span as diverse fields as improved surgical techniques and molecular biology of the immune system, and his Round Table discussions in the Tyrolean Alps on a variety of scientific topics have fostered an appreciation of a multidisciplinary approach to medical problems in all those individuals who have participated.