OR

source:wikimedia.org
23 Jan, 1918
21 Feb, 1999
Natural causes
American
Biochemist
81
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Elion received many awards for her scientific achievements, including:
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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.
Gertrude Elion
Gertrude Elion
Female
Natural causes
New York City, New York, USA
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Logistician: Practical and fact-minded individuals, whose reliability cannot be doubted. Elion’s methodical approach, dedication to detail, and commitment to practical outcomes in drug development, paired with her reserved demeanor, suggest a reliable, duty-driven personality.
She never earned a Ph.D., relying instead on hands-on experience.
She was inspired to pursue science after her grandfather died of cancer when she was 15.
She loved opera and travel, using Nobel Prize money to fund both.
She faced job rejections early on due to her gender, once told she’d be “too distracting” in a lab.
Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1991.
Won the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Co-developed azathioprine, the first immunosuppressant, in 1960.
Received the National Medal of Science in 1991.
Developed mercaptopurine, a leukemia treatment, in 1951.