Gerty Cori (15 August 1896 – 26 October 1957) was a Swiss physical chemist. Gerty Cori was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1991.
Life and Career
Gerty Cori was born on 15 August 1896, in Prague, Czechia.
Cori attended the German University in Prague, where she initially studied philosophy but later switched to medicine. She met her future husband, Carl Cori while studying at the university. The couple later moved to the United States to continue their education and research.
Gerty Cori, along with her husband Carl, made significant contributions to the field of biochemistry. They conducted groundbreaking research on carbohydrate metabolism and identified the key steps in the conversion of glycogen to glucose, which is crucial for energy production in the body. Their work had implications for understanding diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
Gerty Cori passed away on 26 October 1957, in Glendale, Missouri, United States.
Award and Legacy
In 1947, Gerty Cori became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, sharing the award with her husband Carl and Bernardo Houssay.
Gerty Cori’s legacy is profound. She shattered gender barriers in the scientific community and inspired countless women to pursue careers in science. Her contributions to our understanding of metabolism continue to influence research and medical practice to this day.