Tu Youyou: Artemisinin Discovery, Ancient Herbology & Nobel Laureate
Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/6. Medicine & Human Biology/07. Medical & Health Biographies • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Biographical timeline of Chinese pharmaceutical chemist Tu Youyou, whose discovery of artemisinin from ancient Chinese herbology revolutionized malaria treatment and saved millions of lives.
Chronological Storyline (33 Milestones)
340 CE
Ge Hong Writes Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies
Ge Hong compiles the 'Zhouhou Beiji Fang' (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies), which later inspires Tu Youyou with its mention of sweet wormwood for fever. #history #TCM
Ge Hong Writes Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies By Gan Bozong (Tang period, 618-907) - https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/5f/87/4e750c334bb041db425934535c34.jpg (hi-res image) Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/L0039323.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-28): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/f65bzfbc CC-BY-4.0, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33926771
Dec 30, 1930 CE
Tu Youyou Born in Ningbo
Tu Youyou is born in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. She grows up during a time of conflict and develops an interest in traditional Chinese medicine. #history
Tu Youyou Born in Ningbo By Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden - 810_4987 Tu Youyou, medicine, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=123803054
1951 CE
Admitted to Peking University Medical School
Tu Youyou is admitted to Peking University Medical School (now Peking University Health Science Center), where she studies pharmacy. #education #medicine
1955 CE
Graduates from Peking University
Tu Youyou graduates and begins work at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (now China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences). #education #medicine
1959 CE
Studies Traditional Chinese Medicine
Tu Youyou undergoes a two-year training program in traditional Chinese medicine, which later proves crucial for her discovery. #TCM #education
1967 CE
Project 523 Launched by China
The Chinese government initiates Project 523, a secret military research program to find an antimalarial drug for troops in Vietnam. #history #medicine
1969 CE
Appointed Head of Project 523 Research Group
Tu Youyou is appointed head of the antimalarial research group under Project 523 at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. #medicine #history
1971 CE
Discovers Artemisinin Extraction Method
Tu Youyou reviews Ge Hong's ancient text and realizes that low-temperature extraction preserves the active compound. She uses ether to successfully extract artemisinin from Artemisia annua. #discovery #TCM
Discovers Artemisinin Extraction Method By Fvasconcellos 23:05, 12 April 2007 (UTC) - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1935607
1972 CE
Volunteers for Human Testing
Tu Youyou and two colleagues volunteer to be the first humans to take artemisinin, ensuring its safety before clinical trials. #courage #medicine
1972 CE
First Isolation of Artemisinin
Tu Youyou and her team isolate pure artemisinin (qinghaosu) from the plant extract, demonstrating its antimalarial activity in mice. #science #medicine
1973 CE
Clinical Trials in Hainan
Clinical trials of artemisinin on malaria patients in Hainan province show high efficacy against both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. #medicine #malaria
1975 CE
Structural Elucidation of Artemisinin
Collaborating with the Institute of Biophysics, Tu's team determines the chemical structure of artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone with a peroxide bridge. #science #chemistry
1979 CE
National Invention Prize Awarded
Tu Youyou receives the National Invention Prize of China for the discovery of artemisinin. #award #China
1985 CE
First Total Synthesis of Artemisinin
Chinese chemist Zhou Weishan achieves the first total synthesis of artemisinin, confirming its structure. #science #chemistry
1990 CE
Development of Artemisinin Combination Therapies
Researchers develop artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) to prevent drug resistance, becoming the recommended treatment for malaria. #medicine #globalhealth
Development of Artemisinin Combination Therapies By Our World In Data - https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-children-with-a-fever-receiving-antimalarial-drugs, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=183639672
1999 CE
WHO Recommends ACTs
The World Health Organization endorses artemisinin combination therapies as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. #globalhealth #medicine
WHO Recommends ACTs By Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France - World Health Organization @ Pregny-Chambésy, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105949300
2001 CE
WHO Adds Artemisinin to Essential Medicines List
Artemisinin is included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, ensuring widespread access. #globalhealth #medicine
2004 CE
Elected to Chinese Academy of Engineering
Tu Youyou is elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. #award #China
Sep 12, 2011 CE
Receives Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award
Tu Youyou is awarded the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for her discovery of artemisinin, bringing international recognition. #award #medicine
Receives Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award By NIH History Office from Bethesda - President Lyndon Johnson accepts the Albert Lasker Award, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82867143
2014 CE
Albert Lasker Award for Public Service
Tu Youyou receives the Albert Lasker Award for Public Service for her humanitarian impact. #award #medicine
Oct 5, 2015 CE
Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Tu Youyou is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of artemisinin, sharing the prize with William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura. #NobelPrize #medicine
Dec 10, 2015 CE
Nobel Prize Ceremony in Stockholm
Tu Youyou receives the Nobel Prize medal and diploma from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. #NobelPrize #ceremony
2016 CE
Asteroid Named 505906 Tu Youyou
The asteroid 505906, discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory, is named in honor of Tu Youyou. #space #honor
2016 CE
Elected Foreign Associate of US National Academy of Sciences
Tu Youyou is elected as a foreign associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. #science #honor
Elected Foreign Associate of US National Academy of Sciences By Túrelio - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1944414
2017 CE
Awarded UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences
Tu Youyou receives the inaugural UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. #award #science
2018 CE
Published Biography 'Tu Youyou: The Discovery of Artemisinin'
A biography detailing Tu Youyou's life and work is published, highlighting her perseverance. #books #history
Sep 17, 2019 CE
Awarded Order of the Republic (China)
Tu Youyou receives the Order of the Republic, China's highest civilian honor, for her contributions to medicine. #award #China )
Awarded Order of the Republic (China) By 麥思韋在哪 - Own work，置入了File:National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg並有些許修改。, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112800300
2019 CE
State Preeminent Science and Technology Award
Tu Youyou is awarded the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, China's top science prize. #award #science
2020 CE
Elected to The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
Tu Youyou is elected as a fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries. #science #honor
Elected to The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) By Unknown author - http://www.twas.org, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71629694
2021 CE
Donation to Tsinghua University for Malaria Research
Tu Youyou donates her Nobel Prize bonus to Tsinghua University to support malaria research. #philanthropy #science
2022 CE
Continued Advocacy for Traditional Medicine Integration
Tu Youyou continues to advocate for the integration of traditional Chinese medicine with modern pharmacology. #TCM #medicine
2023 CE
Artemisinin Resistance Emerges in Southeast Asia
Reports of artemisinin partial resistance in Cambodia and Thailand highlight the ongoing challenge of malaria. #globalhealth #malaria
2024 CE
Tu Youyou's Legacy Continues to Inspire
Tu Youyou's story remains a symbol of scientific perseverance and the value of traditional knowledge in modern medicine. #history #science
