Back to Show
Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer
How Gertrude Elion Became a Pioneer of Modern Medicine
Gertrude Elion and George Hitchings were a drug-making dream team. They built highly efficient, targeted synthetic drugs to perform specific tasks. Elion and her team built a new antiviral drug in the 1970s to treat herpes, ushering in a new age of medicine and paving the way for designer drugs that could treat a huge range of illnesses.
Support Provided By
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:06
Learn the importance of persuading the public to protect themselves during health crises.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:06
Track the importance of data mapping and analysis in the quest to improve public health.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:06
Learn about the surprisingly recent invention of medicine that combats illness directly.
Unlock with PBS Passport
53:07
See the role vaccination plays in our growing ability to prevent the spread of illness.