Researchers, physicians and pharmaceutical pioneers whose discoveries prevented disease, extended life and transformed modern medicine.
Salk developed the inactivated polio vaccine announced in 1955, helping turn a feared childhood disease into a preventable one. He declined to patent the vaccine and later founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California.
“The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”
Sabin came to the United States as a young immigrant and developed the oral polio vaccine. Its ease of administration made it especially useful for mass immunization and global eradication campaigns.
“I have never had the temptation to work for profit.”
Waksman studied soil microorganisms at Rutgers and led research that produced streptomycin, the first effective antibiotic treatment for tuberculosis. He received the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and helped establish soil microbiology as a major source of therapeutic drugs.
“Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problems.”
Karikó persisted for decades in research on messenger RNA despite repeated professional setbacks. Her work on modified mRNA helped make the platform practical for vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, and earned her a share of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
“There is always a way. You just have to keep going.”
Claude developed techniques for separating and studying the internal components of cells, helping create modern cell biology. His work at Rockefeller laid foundations for understanding cell structure and earned him a share of the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
“It is the destiny of the scientist to be an eternal student.”
Dulbecco’s research showed how tumor viruses can alter host-cell genetic material, advancing understanding of cancer at the molecular level. He shared the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and later became an early advocate for sequencing the human genome.
“The secret of science is that it has to be done.”
Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B surface antigen, a breakthrough that enabled blood screening and helped lead to a vaccine against hepatitis B. Because chronic hepatitis B can cause liver cancer, the vaccine also became an important cancer-prevention tool.
“Scientific research is one of the most exciting and rewarding of occupations.”
Ho came to California as a child and became a leading HIV/AIDS researcher. His work helped establish combination antiretroviral therapy, transforming HIV infection for many patients from a rapidly fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition.
“The beauty of science is that it’s self-correcting.”
Papanicolaou developed the cervical cytology test now known as the Pap smear. Widespread screening allowed cervical abnormalities and cancers to be detected earlier, dramatically improving prevention and treatment outcomes.
“I have devoted my whole life to medical science.”
Pfizer came to New York in 1848 and co-founded a chemical and pharmaceutical business with his cousin. The company grew from specialty medicines into the enterprise that became Pfizer, one of the world’s major pharmaceutical manufacturers.
“The secret of success is to do common work uncommonly well.”