Edward A. Doisy
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1943)
Biography
Edward Adelbert Doisy (November 13, 1893 – October 23, 1986) was an American biochemist who made key discoveries about vitamins and their importance for human health. He was born in Hume, Illinois, and studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning his A.B. in 1914 and M.S. in 1916, then completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1920. Doisy's career was mainly at Saint Louis University, where he founded and led the Department of Biochemistry for over 40 years.
His major achievement was discovering and identifying the chemical structure of vitamin K, work that earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1943, shared with Danish scientist Henrik Dam. This discovery was important for understanding how blood clots, leading to vital medical treatments for bleeding disorders. The name "vitamin K" comes from the German word "Koagulations-Vitamin," highlighting its key role in blood clotting.
Besides his Nobel-winning work, Doisy also made significant contributions to hormone research, especially in reproductive endocrinology. In 1930, he and German chemist Adolf Butenandt independently discovered estrone, a female sex hormone, but it was Butenandt who received the 1939 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on sex hormones.
Throughout his career, Doisy held several academic posts and received many honors. He started at Washington University School of Medicine in 1919 before moving to Saint Louis University in 1923, staying there until he retired in 1965. His scientific achievements were recognized when he was elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences in 1938, the American Philosophical Society in 1942, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1948. He also received the Willard Gibbs Award in 1941 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Paris in 1945.
Before Fame
Doisy's early life in rural Illinois gave little hint of his future success in science. Born into a modest family in Hume, a small farming community, he showed a knack for academics that took him to the University of Illinois. In the early 1900s, there were fast advances in biochemistry and nutrition science as researchers began understanding how vitamins prevent diseases like scurvy and rickets.
His journey into biochemistry happened at the same time vitamin research became its own area of study. After earning his undergraduate and master's degrees in Illinois, Doisy pursued his PhD at Harvard University during World War I, a time when American universities were boosting their research efforts. He started his career at Washington University School of Medicine in 1919, gaining valuable experience in biochemistry before setting up his own department at Saint Louis University.
Key Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1943) for discovery of vitamin K and its chemical structure
- Co-discovery of estrone hormone in 1930, advancing reproductive endocrinology research
- Established and chaired Saint Louis University's Department of Biochemistry for 42 years (1923-1965)
- Election to National Academy of Sciences (1938) and other prestigious scientific societies
- Received Willard Gibbs Award (1941) and honorary doctorate from University of Paris (1945)
Did You Know?
- 01.The vitamin K he discovered gets its name from the German word 'Koagulations-Vitamin' because German scientist Henrik Dam, his co-Nobel laureate, first identified its role in blood coagulation
- 02.Saint Louis University renamed their biochemistry department the 'E.A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry' in his honor, later expanding it to include molecular biology
- 03.Despite discovering estrone simultaneously with Adolf Butenandt in 1930, only Butenandt received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1939 for hormone research
- 04.His family's $30 million donation led to the construction of the Edward A. Doisy Research Center in 2007, twenty-one years after his death
- 05.He served as a lecturer at the University of Chicago School of Medicine in 1940, expanding his influence beyond his primary appointment at Saint Louis University
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1943 | for his discovery of the chemical nature of vitamin K |
| Willard Gibbs Award | 1941 | — |
| doctor honoris causa from the University of Paris | 1945 | — |