This month we’ll be looking at lesser-known early women scientists at the National Institutes of Health. They did solid work and were leaders in their field, but for some reason, they aren’t well-known.
“Know your enemy” describes the work of Dr. Sarah Branham (1888-1962). She dedicated much of her career to understanding meningitis, identifying different strains, and developing the effective tests and treatments for the disease in anti-serum and sulfa drugs.
In this September 1937 photo, Branham and technician Robert Forkish inoculate a mouse with meningococcus antiserum to determine whether it will protect against meningitis:
Just a few decades ago, there weren’t many opportunities for women in science, but thankfully today’s environment is far more welcoming. Robin Stanley, a recently hired NIH Earl Stadtman Investigator, is one young scientist inspired to follow her career path by some of the early female pioneers in her field of research.
