Robert F. Schilling
# Robert F. Schilling

Robert Frederick Schilling, M.D. (1919– 30 September 2014) was a physician best known for his research on Vitamin $B_{12}.$ Schilling was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin. He is the namesake of the Schilling test.

## Education and postdoctoral work

Schilling received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. He received postdoctoral training at Philadelphia General Hospital in West Philadelphia, Boston City Hospital in Boston, and at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

## Work with Vitamin $B_{12}$

His work on detection of radio-cobalt-labeled $B_{12}$ in the urine led to a test for vitamin $B_{12}$ absorption named the "Schilling test" in his honor. The Schilling test determines if a patient has pernicious anemia, a disease caused by malabsorption of $B_{12}$ due to lack of intrinsic factor. The Schilling test in a second stage may also be used as a control test for other causes of malabsorption of Vitamin $B_{12}$ even if it is bound to intrinsic factor $(B_{12}$ deficiency which is not pernicious anemia).

