What we need to do now

We have COVID-19 vaccines—but we’re not done yet. We also need to tackle vaccine hesitancy, health equity, and pandemic preparedness. Read to the end for insights for biotech investors and an introduction to a young Black chemist who achieved a number of firsts in her short life. (825 words, 4 minutes, 7 seconds)

What we need to do now

And one more thing: pandemic preparedness

BIO Celebrates Black History Month

Young chemist Alice Ball achieved a number of firsts—including discovering the first treatment for leprosy.

Born in 1892 in Seattle, Washington, Alice Ball was the first woman AND the first African American to earn a Master’s in chemistry from the College of Hawaii, in 1915.

At 23 years old, she discovered how to safely inject chaulmoogra oil to use as a treatment for Hansen’s Disease (a.k.a. leprosy). Until the discovery of antibiotics, this was the only effective treatment for this stigmatized and lethal disease.

Sadly, however, Alice died at 24—and another chemist published the findings and took credit for her work. It wasn’t until the 1970s that researchers at the now-University of Hawaii uncovered her research and gave her credit for what would be known as the “Ball Method.”

BIO Beltway Report