Gertrude B. Elion
Who was Gertrude B. Elion?
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1988)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Gertrude B. Elion (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Gertrude Belle Elion was born on January 23, 1918, in New York City to Lithuanian immigrant parents. She became interested in science early on, particularly after her grandfather died of cancer when she was fifteen. This experience motivated her to pursue a career in medical research. Elion graduated from Hunter College in 1937 with a degree in chemistry, finishing summa cum laude at age 19. Despite her excellent academic record, she faced significant gender discrimination when trying to find work in research labs.
To fund her graduate education, she took various jobs, including teaching high school and working as a lab assistant, and earned her master's degree in chemistry from New York University in 1941. During World War II, the shortage of male scientists opened up research opportunities for women, and in 1944, Elion joined the Burroughs Wellcome Company (now GlaxoSmithKline) as a research assistant to George Hitchings. This partnership proved transformative for both pharmaceutical science and Elion's career.
Elion and Hitchings came up with a new way to develop drugs called rational drug design. Instead of the traditional trial-and-error method, they examined the differences between normal human cells and pathogens or cancer cells. By understanding how these cells used nutrients, particularly purines and pyrimidines, they could design drugs that targeted diseased cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This approach led to the creation of many important medications.
During her career at Burroughs Wellcome, Elion developed over 45 patents and played a crucial role in creating several life-saving drugs. Her work resulted in the creation of 6-mercaptopurine, the first treatment for childhood leukemia; azathioprine, the first immunosuppressive drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection; and acyclovir, the first effective antiviral drug for treating herpes infections. Later, the principles she established were used to develop AZT, the first antiretroviral drug used to treat AIDS.
In 1988, Elion shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with George Hitchings and James Black, becoming only the fifth woman to receive this honor. She retired from active research in 1983 but continued as an emeritus scientist and served on various advisory boards. Elion died on February 21, 1999, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, leaving a legacy of scientific innovation that continues to save lives worldwide.
Before Fame
Elion grew up during the Great Depression in a family that valued education, even with financial hardships. Her parents, Robert Elion and Bertha Cohen, encouraged her curiosity. After her grandfather died from stomach cancer, fifteen-year-old Elion decided to become a scientist to find cures for diseases. She did well at Walton High School and later Jamaica High School in Queens.
Becoming a scientist was tough because of the gender discrimination in the 1930s and 1940s. Even though she graduated summa cum laude from Hunter College, Elion was often turned down for lab jobs because employers thought women would distract male workers. She worked as a food quality supervisor, high school teacher, and lab assistant while earning her master's degree part-time. World War II finally gave her a chance as many male scientists left for military service, leading to her opportunity at Burroughs Wellcome.
Key Achievements
- Co-developed 6-mercaptopurine, the first effective treatment for childhood leukemia
- Created azathioprine, the first immunosuppressive drug enabling successful organ transplants
- Developed acyclovir, the first widely effective antiviral medication for herpes treatment
- Won the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for rational drug design methodology
- Established scientific principles that led to the development of AZT, the first AIDS treatment drug
Did You Know?
- 01.She never completed her PhD because Burroughs Wellcome would not allow her to work part-time while pursuing the degree, and she chose her research career over academic credentials
- 02.Elion was an avid photographer and world traveler, visiting over 40 countries during her lifetime
- 03.She was initially assigned to work on purines because her supervisor thought this area of research was less important, but it became the foundation for her most significant discoveries
- 04.At age 70, she helped oversee the development of AZT for AIDS treatment, proving that her research methods remained relevant decades later
- 05.She received 23 honorary doctorate degrees from universities worldwide, despite never earning her own PhD
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1988 | for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment |
| National Women's Hall of Fame | 1991 | — |
| National Medal of Science | 1991 | — |
| Garvan–Olin Medal | 1968 | — |
| National Inventors Hall of Fame | 1991 | — |
| Lemelson–MIT Prize | 1997 | — |
| Women in Technology Hall of Fame | 1998 | — |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | — | — |
| Foreign Member of the Royal Society | 1995 | — |
| North Carolina Award for Science | 1989 | — |