Gertrude Elion

Early Life and Education

Gertrude Belle Elion was born on January 23, 1918, in New York City to immigrant parents. Her parents were Robert Elion, a Lithuanian Jewish dentist, and Bertha Cohen, a Polish Jewish immigrant. Elion’s early childhood was spent in Manhattan, her father’s dental practice being located there. Following the birth of her younger brother, the family relocated to the Bronx.

From a young age, Elion excelled academically, graduating from Walton High School at a mere 15 years old. Her life changed forever when her beloved grandfather passed away from stomach cancer. This tragedy motivated her to pursue science and medicine.

Elion’s academic achievements gained her entry into Hunter College in spite of financial struggles after the 1929 Wall Street Crash. In 1937, she achieved summa cum laude honors in chemistry when she was 19 years old.

Early Career Struggles

After graduation, Elion struggled to find chemistry work because of gender discrimination. She bravely pursued diverse roles such as a lab assistant, teacher, and secretary. Eventually, she saved enough money to attend New York University, where she earned her M.Sc. in 1941.

Professional Career and Achievements

Elion’s career underwent a major shift in 1944 when she began working for Burroughs Wellcome pharmaceutical company. That’s where her 40-year scientific partnership with Dr. George Hitchings began. Their joint effort pioneered a revolutionary drug development approach centered on the chemical properties of diseased cells.

Their pioneering research resulted in many life-saving medications, such as:

• Purinethol and Thioguanine for treating leukemia
• Daraprim for malaria
• Imuran for organ transplants
• Zovirax for herpes infections
• Zyloprim for gout

Major Contributions and Impact

Elion’s work revolutionized medicine and significantly advanced drug development. Her research resulted in better lives for many patients across the globe by developing treatments for diseases that were once incurable. She was named on 45 patents throughout her career.

Personal Life

Elion remained unmarried her whole life. A personal tragedy struck her in 1941 when her fiancé died of a curable bacterial infection; penicillin, unfortunately, wasn’t available then. Her dedication to medical research grew stronger because of this loss.

Honors and Recognition

Elion received many awards for her scientific achievements, including:

• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988 (shared with George Hitchings)
• The National Medal of Science in 1991
• The Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997
• 25 honorary degrees, including one from Harvard University

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Later Years and Legacy

Despite officially retiring in 1983, Elion remained a scientist emeritus at Glaxo Wellcome. She continued to be a vital part of the scientific community, guiding young researchers and contributing to numerous advisory boards.

Gertrude Belle Elion passed away on February 21, 1999, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the age of 81. The lives saved by her discoveries and the scientists she inspired across generations continue her legacy.