Gerty Cori – Biochemist and Nobel Laureate

This episode tells the story of Gerty Cori, a trailblazing biochemist and the first American woman to win a Nobel Prize in science. Born in Prague in 1896, she pursued medicine despite social and cultural barriers and later emigrated to the United States with her husband and research partner, Carl Cori. Together, they uncovered how the body processes and stores energy, discovering the Cori cycle and identifying key enzymes in glycogen metabolism. Her research laid the foundation for modern treatments of metabolic diseases, especially diabetes and glycogen storage disorders. In 1947, Gerty and Carl Cori received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, marking a historic milestone for women in science. Despite battling a fatal blood disease in her later years, she continued working tirelessly until her death in 1957. Gerty Cori's legacy endures not only in biochemistry but also in her role as a pioneer for women in STEM. She proved that brilliance and perseverance could overcome discrimination, and her discoveries continue to shape medicine and science today.