In the 1960s, malaria was ravaging many developing nations, leading to millions of preventable deaths each year. Despite extensive efforts, Western pharmaceutical companies had failed to develop an effective antimalarial drug. At this desperate time, China launched a top-secret national project to find a cure. One young researcher on this project named Dr. Tu Youyou (屠呦呦) would make a discovery that stunned the world. Her breakthrough was the extraction of artemisinin, a drug that treats malaria, and this achievement has saved millions of lives across South China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.

Born in 1930 in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, Tu Youyou embarked on a journey that would lead her to become one of the most celebrated medical scientists in contemporary China. She did not come from a privileged background, and her road to success was strewn with challenges.

Her interest in medical research was spurred early on by her own experiences with tuberculosis as a teenager. In a time when China was facing significant challenges, Tu Youyou pursued her studies at the Beijing Medical College, where she specialized in pharmacology. She graduated in 1955 and joined the Institute of Materia Medica at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, devoting herself to the study of Chinese herbal medicine.

Tu's journey to her Nobel Prize-winning discovery began in earnest in 1967 when she was recruited to Project 523, a secret military program initiated by the Chinese government to find a cure for malaria. Malaria was a significant problem for North Vietnamese troops at the time, and their allies, the Chinese government, were committed to finding a solution. Traditional Western treatments were becoming less effective due to increasing resistance by malaria parasites to existing drugs.

Drawing on her extensive knowledge of traditional Chinese texts and folk remedies, Tu led her team to pore over ancient literature, searching for historical methods of treating malaria-like symptoms. They examined more than 2,000 Chinese herb preparations and made 380 extracts from 200 herbs, which they tested on mice. This required diligent focus and patience. Most extracts she tested proved ineffective, but she remained steadfast in her analysis.

Many of her colleagues questioned the value of consulting these ancient texts. However, Dr. Tu was fascinated by the treasures hidden within. She believed integrating Chinese medicine and modern science could lead to breakthroughs. Despite encountering skepticism, Dr. Tu persisted.

It was from this meticulous research that Tu and her team discovered the potential of Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood), which had been used in China to treat intermittent fevers, a hallmark of malaria. Tu took an innovative approach to extract the active compound by using a low-temperature ether-based extraction method, as she believed that high-temperature boiling, as used in traditional preparations, could destroy the active component. This insight led to the isolation of the substance known as artemisinin in 1972.

Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood)

The new drug was a triumph. It had rapid malaria-clearing properties, with minimal side effects and a mechanism of action that differed from all other known antimalarial drugs. Artemisinin and its derivatives became essential in the fight against malaria, saving millions of lives worldwide.

In a significant departure from traditional scientific practice, Tu first tested the drug on herself to ensure its safety before conducting clinical trials, which were successful. However, due to the political climate in China during the Cultural Revolution, her work was not widely known internationally for many years.

Global Recognition of Her Achievement

Tu Youyou's groundbreaking research on antimalarial drugs was finally recognized globally when she was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. She shared half of the prize with William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura, who won the other half jointly for their work on therapies against parasitic worm infections. This made Dr. Tu the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences, as well as the first Chinese citizen to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine specifically. Prior to her Nobel, she was honored with the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2011 and the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize in 2015 for her malaria research achievements. Dr. Tu became a national hero in China and inspired young scientists worldwide.

Continuing Her Research

After her groundbreaking success, Dr. Tu continued to do research for some years before retiring at the typical age. However, her pioneering work and passion for helping others continues to inspire.

In recent years, malaria strains resistant to artemisinin have emerged. Although Dr. Tu has retired, her pioneering work continues to inspire the next generation of researchers addressing this challenge. Scientists today build on her discoveries by searching ancient texts for new treatments to overcome drug resistance.

In an interview, Dr. Tu shared her source of inspiration: “The salvation of the people should be the primary concern for research. Experiments succeed or fail, it does not matter.” Throughout her career, saving lives has been her guiding motivation.

Her Legacy

Throughout her career, Dr. Tu exemplified perseverance, resilience and integrating diverse knowledge to serve humanity. Her legacy continues to impact the medical community:

• She never gave up despite early failures, driven to save lives. Her persistence led to a lifesaving breakthrough.
• She spearheaded uniting traditional Chinese medicine and modern science. Her work revealed the wealth of knowledge in ancient texts.
• She exemplified China's scientific contributions, gaining international recognition with a Nobel Prize.
• As a female scientist 50 years ago, she broke gender barriers and paved the way for more women in science.
• Her enduring passion for helping people through medicine remains an inspiration. She dedicated her career to reducing human suffering worldwide.

Conclusion

At a time when the world desperately needed hope, Dr. Tu Youyou's relentless pursuit of an antimalarial treatment provided it. Thanks to her groundbreaking discovery of artemisinin, millions of lives have been saved. She exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to overcome challenges. Dr. Tu’s inspirational story highlights the immense potential when we integrate knowledge from diverse sources to serve humanity.

Take a look at the video below to learn more about how Dr. Tu Youyou made her remarkable breakthrough with Artemisinin.