Tu Youyou

Tu Youyou is a Chinese scientist renowned for discovering artemisinin, a groundbreaking compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine that effectively treats malaria. Her work significantly reduced malaria-related deaths worldwide. Using innovative research and traditional herbal knowledge, she identified artemisinin in the 1970s, which has become a key component of modern antimalarial therapies. Her achievements exemplify the successful integration of traditional medicine with modern scientific methods, earning her the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015. Tu Youyou’s contribution has saved countless lives and advanced global health efforts against parasitic diseases.