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Her day of birth
Born in New York City, the daughter of Jewish immigrants, she graduated from Hunter College in 1937 and New York University in 1941. -
Her grandpa's death
In deciding to specialize in her studies, she was greatly influenced by the illness suffered by her grandfather, with whom she was close, and who died of cancer when she was 15. This fact motivated her to go deeper into this disease and how to cure it. So she decided on the scientific branch: chemistry. -
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Her first studies
She started a master's degree in chemistry at New York University. She was the only woman there. She worked in the mornings as a receptionist in a doctor's office and in the afternoons as a chemistry and physics teacher. She spent her evenings and weekends studying for her master's degree. -
One of her first jobs!
The woman was able to get a job as an assistant to George H. Hitchings at the pharmaceutical company Burroughs-Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline). In his laboratory, the scientist went from being an expert in organic chemistry to delving into the fields of biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology... -
More studies!
Gertrude B. Elion's work, which led to curative therapies. This was later to lead to pyrimethamine, a successful medication for the tratament of malaria. -
Medicines and experiments...
They synthesised two derivatives that inhibited purine biosynthesis: thioguanine and mercaptopurine. "Especially important was mercaptopurine". Considered the first effective anticancer drug in the fight against childhood leukaemia, it increased the survival of children from 3 to 12 months. -
The retirement of his partner
When Hitchings retired, Gertrude B. Elion continued to lead the group as Head of the Experimental Therapy Department at Borroughs Wellcome. -
Her retirement
Elion retired, but did not give up her passion for science. She continued as a researcher emeritus, helping to develop the first AIDS drug, zidovudine (AZT). -
Her first award!
But his major research, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with George Hitchings and James W. Black, is the study of the biochemical differences between normal and pathogenic human cells in order to design medications that could eliminate or inhibit the reproduction of particular pathogens without harming the host cells. -
Award 2...
Another award she received was the National Medal of Science. -
Another achievement
She became the FIRST woman to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. -
... and award 3!
... and the Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award. -
Her death
She died of natural causes in North Carolina in 1999, aged 81. She remained unmarried and never had children.