Contents
Gerty Cori
Explaining how the body stores and uses carbohydrate energy.
Glycogen metabolism · Enzyme research
- Born
- 15 August 1896
- Birthplace
- Prague
- Died
- 26 October 1957
More people
Gerty Cori
Czech-American biochemist who investigated glycogen metabolism with Carl Cori. Their work helped establish the biochemical cycle linking muscle activity and the liver.
Early life
Prague education
Studied extra mathematics, science and Latin to qualify for medical school. She met Carl Cori there and graduated in 1920.
Career
- 1922
United States
Moved to America and continued laboratory research.
- 1931
St Louis
Joined Washington University, where institutional barriers initially limited her position.
- 1947
Nobel recognition
Shared the medicine prize with Carl Cori and Bernardo Houssay.
Contributions
Glycogen metabolism
Investigated how stored carbohydrate is broken down and rebuilt.
Enzyme research
Helped identify phosphorylase and reproduce glycogen synthesis in the laboratory.
Beyond work
Scientific partnership
Married Carl in 1920. Despite unequal employment conditions, they continued a close research collaboration.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: National Library of Medicine, Images from the History of Medicine, B05353. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.