Gertrude B. Elion M.S.[Chemistry]

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1988
Co-Nobelists: Sir James W. Black, George H. Hitchings
National Medal of Science - Chemistry 1991

Chemist, Pharmacologist. Discovered principles for drug treatment; developed drugs - anticancer, immunosuppressive, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-gout, anti-malarial. Purines.

"I was a child with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. My beloved grandfather died of cancer when I was 15. I was highly motivated to discover a cure for this terrible disease".

Retirement

Gertrude Elion was awarded the Nobel Prize after she had retired. The Nobel Prize opened the door for her to do something she enjoyed very much - tutoring Medical Students. She did so at Duke University. Also, suddenly, people were requesting her to be on advisory boards and communities and to deliver lectures.