Dr. Jane Wright

Dr Jane Wright is credited with developing the technique of using human tissue culture rather than laboratory mice to test the effects of potential drugs on cancer cells.

Degree(s): Pre-Medical Studies, Doctor of Medicine

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Undergraduate Institution: Smith College

Graduate Institution: New York Medical College

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Photo Credit: National Library of Medicine-NIH

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Dr. Jane Wright is credited with developing the technique of using human tissue culture rather than laboratory mice to test the effects of potential drugs on cancer cells. She tested various drugs on tumors, and she was the first to identify methotrexate, one of the foundational chemotherapy drugs, as an effective tool against cancerous tumors. Her work was responsible for proving the effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating cancer, effectively saving millions of lives. Dr. Wright was the only woman founder of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the first woman elected president of the New York Cancer Society.

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Fun Fact: Dr. Wright came from a family of medical professionals. Her father, Dr. Louis Tompkins Wright, was one of the first Blacks to graduate from Harvard Medical School.

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