A Brief History of Women in Laboratory Science
Women have played a crucial role in advancing clinical diagnostics, pathology, microbiology, and molecular testing, shaping the laboratory science that HNL Lab Medicine relies on today.
Read more to learn about influential and remarkable lab scientists throughout history and today, including some of the brilliant scientists at HNL Lab Medicine who continue to drive innovation in the field.
Early Contributions (19th – Early 20th Century)
Marie Curie (1867–1934) discovered radioactivity, which later contributed to radiation-based diagnostics like X-rays and nuclear medicine.Dorothy Reed Mendenhall (1874–1964) identified Reed-Sternberg cells, which remain key in diagnosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma in pathology labs.
Alice Catherine Evans (1881–1975) proved that Brucella bacteria caused disease in humans, paving the way for microbial culture techniques and safer diagnostics.
Mid-20th Century: The Rise of Clinical Diagnostics
Helen Free (1923–2021) developed the first urine dipstick test, which revolutionized point-of-care testing (POCT) for diabetes, kidney function, and infections.Rosalyn Yalow (1921–2011) co-developed radioimmunoassay (RIA), allowing for highly sensitive hormone and biomarker testing—critical in thyroid function tests, insulin assays, and infectious disease diagnostics.
Janet Rowley (1925–2013) discovered chromosomal translocations in leukemia, leading to genetic testing for blood cancers.
Late 20th – 21st Century: Molecular & Digital Breakthroughs
Mary-Claire King (born 1946) discovered BRCA1, transforming genetic screening for breast cancer and influencing molecular diagnostics.Jennifer Doudna (born 1964) co-developed CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene-editing tool now used in genetic testing and personalized medicine.
June Almeida (1930–2007) first visualized coronaviruses under an electron microscope, leading to modern viral diagnostics used for diseases like COVID-19.
Today: Women Leading the Lab
Tara Hummel, Georgia Colasante, and Keana Makari collaborated with DiaSorin Molecular to develop a diagnostic test for tick-borne illnesses, improving detection of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis as cases rise due to ecological changes.
Ely Zarate and Elizabeth Pickering conducted a multicenter study evaluating Copan’s Colibrí™, an automated MALDI TOF MS instrument for bacterial identification, demonstrating its 99.54% accuracy and potential to streamline clinical microbiology.
Women have played a crucial role in shaping the field of laboratory science, from pioneering groundbreaking discoveries to driving innovation in modern diagnostics.
At HNL Lab Medicine, female leaders and scientists continue this legacy, advancing medical testing, automation, and disease detection. Their expertise and dedication not only improve patient care but also push the boundaries of what’s possible in laboratory medicine. As a leader in the field, HNL Lab Medicine is proud to celebrate the remarkable women on our team whose contributions make a lasting impact on science and healthcare!