Gertrude Elion - Wonderful Woman No. 86

Gertrude Elion - 1918-1999
American Biochemist, Pharmacologist and Teacher

Whenever I write of women in science on this blog, it has been necessary to mention the sexism they have faced and overcome in order to achieve their goals. The same is true of Gertrude Elion, who wished to work in research science as her idol Marie Curie (Wonderful Woman No. 42) had.

In the 1930s when Gertrude began applying to work in her chosen field, she was rejected from every post, one employer even telling her that she was "too pretty" to work in their laboratory and that she would be a distraction to the men. For a while she worked unpaid teaching biochemistry to medical students. It was the second World War that changed Gertrude's fate, with so many men away fighting, her chance to become a research biochemist was finally realised.

Alongside her colleague, Dr. George Hitchings, Gertrude developed numerous important medicines and there is no doubt that she both saved and improved an uncountable number of lives. Among the drugs they developed were Acyclovir (Zovirax) which is used to treat viral herpes, Allopurinol used to treat the inflammatory condition gout, Trimethoprim which combats bacterial infection and has been used in the treatment of life-threatening illnesses such as meningitis and septicemia, Pyrimethamine used to treat potentially fatal Malaria, Pyrimethamine the first drug used to combat the cancer lukemia and Azathioprine (Imuran) which is used to assist the body of organ transplant recipients from rejecting the donor organ.

Gertrude is one of very few women in science to have been awarded a Nobel Prize, she was also the first woman to be inducted into the American National Inventors Hall of Fame.

A former American president said she was a woman who "transformed the world". This album is really a celebration of women who have shaped the lives of the people who contribute to it, I can't think of a more suitable entry.

Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In my day I was told women didn't go into chemistry. I saw no reason why we couldn't.
Gertrude Elion