Gerti Radnitz Cori
Personal Information
Born: 1896
Died: 1957
Country of Birth: Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Czech republic)
Nationality: Czech Republic; USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Medical School of the German University of Prague, MD 1920
Professional Life
Field of Study: Biochemistry
Institution/Corporation: Washington University Medical School
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degrees: Boston University (1948), Smith College (1949), Yale University(1951), Columbia University (1954), Rochester University(1955); Member: American Society of Biological Chemists, Board Member of NSF, American Philosophical Society, National Academy of Sciences, Fellow American Academy of Arts & Sciences (1953), Iota Sigma Pi (1949)
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1947, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (with husband Carl Cori & Bernardo Houssay); 1948, Garvan-Olin Medal; 1946, Midwest Award, American Chemistry Society (with Carl Cori); 1947, Squibb Award in Endocrinology (with Carl Cori); 1948, St. Louis Award; 1950, Sugar Research Award; 1953, Borden Award; 1 crater on the Moon & 1 crater on Venus are named after her; 1998, National Women s Hall of Fame; 2008, USPS issued a 41 cent stamp in honor of the Cori s discoveries but incorrectly depicted the Cori ester; she & Carl share a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame
Achievements: 3rd female to win a Nobel Prize in Science; 1st female to win a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; with husband Carl, discovered the course of the catalytic conversion of glycogen (the Cori cycle);1st American Female to win a Nobel Prize; the Cori s carbohydrate research led to the development of treatment for diabetes; she & Carl discovered how to create glycogen in a test tube making research easier; 4th female elected to National Academy of Sciences
3rd female to win a Nobel Prize in science & 1st female awarded a Nobel in Physiology or Medicine (1947)
Was named after an Austrian warship
She & her husband, Carl Ferninand Cori, were the 3rd married couple awarded a Nobel
At 16, decided she wanted to be a doctor but lacked the prerequisites in Latin, physics, chemistry, & math; over the course of 1 year studied the equivalent of 8 years of Latin, 5 years of science, & 5 years of math to catch up
1922, immigrated to the US; 1928, became a naturalized citizen
Carl turned down many teaching positions because they wanted him to stop working with Gerti
1st American female to win a Nobel in science
6 scientists mentored by Geri & Carl went on to win Nobels