Women Scientists Pioneered Vaccine Breakthroughs

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This International Women's Day, the stories of pioneering women scientists like Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Isabel Zendal Gómez, and Katalin Karikó highlight their crucial contributions to vaccine development over centuries. Their legacies paved the way for advancements in treatments for diseases like diphtheria, polio, and COVID-19, and continue to shape the future of immunization with emerging technologies like personalized and universal vaccines.

Why it matters

Recognizing the pioneering work of women in science is not just about historical acknowledgment, but understanding the trajectory of innovation and anticipating the future of immunization. Ensuring diversity and equity in the scientific workforce is crucial to fostering continued breakthroughs that can lead to more equitable health outcomes globally.

The details

From Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's introduction of variolation in the 18th century to Isabel Zendal Gómez's role in the Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna, women have been at the forefront of vaccine development for generations. Later, Anna Wessels Williams' isolation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Margaret Pittman's identification of Haemophilus influenzae type b, and the collaborative work of Pearl Kendrick, Grace Eldering, and Loney Gordon on a whooping cough vaccine were all pivotal breakthroughs. The 20th and 21st centuries saw continued remarkable contributions, including Dorothy Horstmann's research on polio, Isabel Morgan's work on an inactivated polio vaccine, Ruth Bishop's discovery of the rotavirus, and more recently, Sarah Gilbert's leadership in developing the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and Katalin Karikó's groundbreaking work on mRNA technology.

• In the 18th century, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduced variolation to the West.
• In the late 19th century, Anna Wessels Williams isolated Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Margaret Pittman identified Haemophilus influenzae type b.
• In the early 20th century, Pearl Kendrick, Grace Eldering, and Loney Gordon collaborated on a whooping cough vaccine.
• In the mid-20th century, Dorothy Horstmann researched polio's impact on the nervous system and Isabel Morgan worked on an inactivated polio vaccine.
• In the late 20th century, Ruth Bishop discovered the rotavirus.

What’s next

Researchers continue to explore the potential of mRNA technology, personalized vaccines, universal vaccines, and vector-based vaccines to address emerging health challenges and improve global access to immunization.