Biography
Gerty Theresa Cori (née Radnitz) was born on August 15, 1896, in Prague, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time. Despite limited educational opportunities for women in the early 1900s, she got into the German University in Prague Medical School. There, she met her future husband and research partner, Carl Ferdinand Cori, in an anatomy class. They both graduated in 1920, got married the same year, and began a lifelong scientific partnership.
With the political and economic situation worsening in post-war Europe, the couple moved to the United States in 1922. Gerty Cori pursued medical research but faced significant gender-based discrimination when trying to secure academic positions. While her husband landed prestigious research roles, she often had to accept assistant positions with low pay. Despite these challenges, Carl refused to work without her, even when institutions discouraged their partnership.
The Coris' significant research centered on carbohydrate metabolism, particularly how the body stores and uses glucose for energy. Their work led to the discovery of how glycogen is broken down in muscles into lactic acid and then resynthesized and stored in the liver, now called the Cori cycle. They also identified the catalyzing compound glucose-1-phosphate, known as the Cori ester.
In 1947, Gerty Cori, alongside her husband and Argentine physiologist Bernardo Houssay, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries in glycogen conversion. She became the third woman to win a Nobel Prize in science and the first to win it in Physiology or Medicine. The Coris were only the third married couple to share a Nobel Prize.
Gerty Cori spent her final years battling myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow disorder, which she bravely managed for a decade. Despite her illness, she continued her research activities until she passed away on October 26, 1957, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her commitment to science remained strong, and she contributed important research even during her last years.
Before Fame
Gerty Radnitz grew up in Prague during the final years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a time marked by major social and political changes. In the early 1900s, there were gradual improvements in women's access to education, but opportunities were still very limited. Her family's encouragement of her education was unusual for that era, as most women were expected to focus on domestic roles rather than careers.
Biochemistry was a new field, with scientists just beginning to explore the chemical processes behind biological functions. At that time, medical schools had only started admitting women, and those who made it through often faced significant career hurdles. Radnitz's choice to pursue a medical education put her in a small group of women who challenged traditional gender roles in academia and research.
Key Achievements
- First woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1947)
- Discovery of the Cori cycle explaining glycogen metabolism
- Identification of glucose-1-phosphate (Cori ester)
- Recipient of the Garvan-Olin Medal (1948)
- Named a National Historic Chemical Landmark with her husband (2004)
Did You Know?
- 01.She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, breaking a 46-year male-dominated streak in the category
- 02.During World War I, she worked in hospitals caring for children suffering from diseases caused by food shortages
- 03.She discovered several important enzymes and was the first to synthesize glycogen in a test tube
- 04.Despite her Nobel Prize, she was never promoted to full professor at Washington University, remaining an associate professor throughout her career
- 05.The lunar crater 'Cori' and the asteroid '12516 Morisot' honor her contributions to science
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1947 | for their discovery of the course of the catalytic conversion of glycogen |
| National Women's Hall of Fame | 1998 | — |
| Garvan–Olin Medal | 1948 | — |
| Women in Technology Hall of Fame | 1997 | — |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | — | — |