Rosalyn Sussman Yalow

Rosalyn Sussman Yalow (July 19, 1921 – May 30, 2011) was an American medical physicist and a co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded for her development of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique. Her pioneering work in this field revolutionized the ability to measure concentration of various substances in the blood and other aqueous fluids of the human body, with profound implications for the field of endocrinology, diabetes research, and nuclear medicine.

Early Life and Education

Rosalyn Sussman was born in the Bronx, New York, to a Jewish family. Despite facing gender-based discrimination, she pursued a career in physics, a field dominated by men at the time. She earned her bachelor's degree in physics from Hunter College in 1941. She then received a teaching assistantship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was the only woman in her engineering physics program. Yalow completed her Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1945.

Career and Research

After completing her education, Yalow returned to New York City, where she joined the Bronx Veterans Administration Medical Center as a part-time consultant. There, she met Solomon Berson, with whom she would collaborate on the development of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique. This method allowed for the measurement of tiny quantities of biological substances in human blood and other liquids, using radioactive isotopes as tracers.

The RIA technique had a significant impact on medical diagnostics, allowing for the early detection of conditions such as insulin levels in diabetes, hormone levels in various endocrine disorders, and the presence of hepatitis and other infectious diseases. Yalow's work also paved the way for the development of similar techniques in other areas of biological and medical research.

Nobel Prize and Later Years

In 1977, Rosalyn Sussman Yalow was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, becoming the second woman to receive the prize in this category. She shared the prize with Roger Guillemin and Andrew V. Schally, who were recognized for their discoveries concerning the peptide hormone production of the brain. Yalow's Nobel Prize was specifically for the development of the radioimmunoassay technique.

Following her Nobel win, Yalow continued her research and became a prominent advocate for women in science, encouraging young women to pursue careers in the field. She held numerous honorary degrees and was a member of various prestigious scientific societies.

Legacy

Rosalyn Sussman Yalow's contributions to medical physics and the development of the radioimmunoassay technique have left a lasting impact on the field of medicine. Her work has facilitated the diagnosis and treatment of countless medical conditions, improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Yalow's legacy also includes her role as a trailblazer for women in science, demonstrating that gender barriers can be overcome in the pursuit of scientific excellence.

See Also

• List of female Nobel laureates
• History of nuclear medicine
• Women in STEM fields