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Tu Youyou - Chinese medical scientist

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03.04.25
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Overview

Tu Youyou is a highly acclaimed Chinese scientist, renowned for her discovery of artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin, drugs used to treat malaria, which saved millions of lives globally. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015, becoming the first female citizen of the People's Republic of China and the first Chinese Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine. This timeline charts her life, highlighting key moments that contributed to her groundbreaking achievements.
Main Milestones
Birth in Ningbo, China
December 30, 1930
Tu Youyou was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, a city known for its rich history and intellectual tradition. Her name, "Youyou", was inspired by a line from the Book of Odes, a classic collection of Chinese poetry, reflecting her parents' hope for a peaceful and harmonious life for her.
Pharmaceutical Studies at Peking University
1951 - 1955
Tu Youyou enrolled at Peking University's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where she majored in pharmaceutical chemistry. This period of formal education provided her with a foundational understanding of drug development, extraction techniques, and the principles of chemistry necessary for her future work.
Assignment to the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine
1959
After graduation, Tu Youyou was assigned to the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (now the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences). This placement proved pivotal, immersing her in the rich history and practices of traditional Chinese medicine, a field that would greatly influence her approach to finding a malaria cure.
Project 523: Leading the Anti-Malarial Drug Discovery Effort
1969
In the context of the Vietnam War and a growing need for malaria treatment, Tu Youyou was appointed to lead Project 523, a secret military project aimed at discovering a new anti-malarial drug. This assignment marked the beginning of her dedicated pursuit of a solution to a global health crisis.
Breakthrough: Artemisinin Extraction
1971
After numerous failed attempts, Tu Youyou and her team turned to ancient Chinese medical texts. Inspired by a reference to sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), she revisited the extraction process, using low-temperature ether to successfully isolate artemisinin, a substance highly effective in killing malaria parasites in vitro. This breakthrough was a direct result of integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific methodology.
Self-Experimentation with Artemisinin
1972
To ensure the safety of the drug, Tu Youyou and several members of her team bravely volunteered to be the first human subjects to test artemisinin. Her willingness to risk her own health underscored her dedication to finding a cure for malaria.
Publication of Artemisinin Research
1979
After years of rigorous testing and refinement, Tu Youyou and her team published their findings on artemisinin, making their discovery available to the international scientific community. This publication opened the door for widespread production and distribution of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which became the gold standard for malaria treatment.
Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
2011
Tu Youyou received the prestigious Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research, recognizing her discovery of artemisinin and its impact on global health. This award signaled international recognition of the profound significance of her work.
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
October 5, 2015
Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, jointly with William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura, for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria. This achievement cemented her legacy as one of the most influential scientists of the 20th and 21st centuries. She is the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel Prize in science.

Other Themed Timelines

Challenges and Obstacles TimelineChallenges and Obstacles TimelineContinuing Research and Legacy TimelineContinuing Research and Legacy TimelineEarly Life and Education TimelineEarly Life and Education TimelineImpact on Global Health TimelineImpact on Global Health TimelinePersonal Life and Family TimelinePersonal Life and Family TimelineProfessional Career TimelineProfessional Career TimelineProject 523 and Artemisinin Research TimelineProject 523 and Artemisinin Research TimelineRecognition and Awards TimelineRecognition and Awards TimelineTimeline of Key Publications and Scientific ContributionsTimeline of Key Publications and Scientific ContributionsTimeline of Recognition Within ChinaTimeline of Recognition Within China
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