Gertrude Belle Elion born in New York City to Bertha (Cohen) and Robert Elion, on January 23

Grandfather dies painfully of stomach cancer, inspiring Elion to pursue a career in science

Graduates summa cum laude from Hunter College, in New York

Applies to 15 graduate schools but, because of gender discrimination, is turned down by all for graduate assistantships

Unable to find research job, volunteers in chemistry lab

Receives M.S. in Chemistry from New York University

Fiancé Leonard Canter dies of a bacterial infection, a few years before penicillin becomes readily available

Shortage of male scientists due to World War II enables Elion to find job as food chemistry analyst

Begins working for George Hitchings at Burroughs Wellcome Co., a pharmaceutical company

Synthesizes 6-Mercaptopurine (Purinethol), which cures childhood leukemia when used with later-developed medicines

Opens field of organ transplantation when the immunosuppressant Imuran, which she developed, is used to transplant a foreign kidney into Lollipop, a German shepherd

Becomes first woman to lead a major research group at Burroughs Wellcome when named Head of Experimental Therapy

Receives honorary doctorate from George Washington University, the first of 25 honorary degrees

Moves to North Carolina when Burroughs Wellcome relocates

Elion's lab develops acyclovir (Zovirax), the first medicine to treat viral infections

Retires from Burroughs Wellcome but remains as Emerita Scientist and consultant

Elion's lab uses her methodology to develop AZT, until 1991 the only drug licensed in the United States to treat AIDS

Shares Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with George Hitchings, for development of rational method for drug design and discoveries in the principles of chemotherapy

Elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Receives the National Medal of Science, the United States' highest scientific honor

Becomes first woman inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame

Dies on February 21, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina