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NIH Biographies

NIH scientists have made major contributions to health and basic medical science for over 100 years. They include 163 Nobel laureates, 214 winners of the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, and more than 200 members of the US National Academies of Science and Medicine.

The nonscientists essential to NIH’s day-to-day operations also have interesting stories to share - and they too are key to understanding NIH and its history. ONHM recently launched a new project to gather those stories. As they are completed, they will be published here.

Evarts, Edward V. (1926–1985)

Evarts, Edward V wears suit

Edward V. Evarts, M.D., investigated the nature of brain activity associated with sleep and the relationship of dreams to hallucinations, including how drugs like LSD…

Fredrickson, Donald S. (1924–2002)

Fredrickson, Donald S is wearing suit

Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D., was a leading researcher on the link between lipids and fats and heart disease. He served as NIH Director from 1975 to 1981.

Gajdusek, D. Carleton (1923–2008)

Gajdusek, D. Carleton

D. Carleton Gajdusek, M.D., was a pediatrician, virologist, and chemist whose research focused on growth, development, and disease in primitive and isolated…

Gallo, Robert C. (1937–)

Gallo, Robert C

Robert Gallo, M.D., has the rare honor of receiving the Lasker Award twice, first in 1982 "for his pioneering studies that led to the discovery of the first human RNA…

Ginsberg, Harold S. (1917–2003)

Ginsberg, Harold in bow tie

Harold Ginsberg, M.D., conducted early research on adenoviruses. He was the first to demonstrate that adenoviruses cause certain infections, including acute…

Nirenberg, Marshall W. (1927-2010)

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Marshall W. Nirenberg PhD., is credited with breaking the genetic code; he first identified the mechanism that translates the DNA code into specific proteins using…

Pinn, Vivian W. (1941-)

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Dr. Vivian W. Pinn served as the first director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), a role she held from 1991-2011.

Pittman, Margaret (1901-1995)

Pittman, Margaret working

Margaret Pittman, PhD, is recognized for her work on an improved and standardized pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.

Rodbell, Martin (1925-1998)

Rodbell, Martin is in suit

Martin Rodbell, PhD., was a biochemist and molecular endocrinologist who shared the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Alfred G. Gilman for "their…

Stadtman, Earl (1919-2008)

Stadtman, Earl

Earl Stadtman, PhD., was a biochemist who devoted his research career to identifying the mechanisms of cellular energy expenditure and metabolism. He focused on…

Stetten, DeWitt Jr. (1909-1990)

Stetten DeWitt wears suit

Biochemist DeWitt Stetten Jr., M.D., Ph.D., is remembered primarily as a highly accomplished scientist-administrator.