Edward Calvin Kendall

Edward Calvin Kendall was an American biochemist whose pioneering work on hormones from the thyroid gland and the adrenal cortex revolutionized medicine. He is best known for his role in the isolation and identification of the anti-inflammatory compound cortisone, a breakthrough that earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His career was primarily based at the Mayo Clinic, where his research had a profound impact on endocrinology and the treatment of numerous diseases.

Early life and education

Born in South Norwalk, Connecticut, he developed an early interest in science. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Columbia University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1908. He continued at Columbia University for his graduate work in chemistry, receiving a Master's degree in 1909 and a PhD in 1910. His doctoral research focused on the chemical properties of thyroid gland extracts, foreshadowing his future career in hormone research.

Career and research

Kendall began his professional career at the pharmaceutical firm Parke-Davis in Detroit, but soon moved to St. Luke's Hospital in New York City. In 1914, he accepted a position at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he would spend the majority of his career. His early work led to the isolation of the crystalline form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine in 1915. He then turned his attention to the complex steroids of the adrenal cortex, embarking on a decades-long project to isolate its active components. Through meticulous fractionation and collaboration with chemists like Harold L. Mason, he successfully isolated several compounds, which he designated Compounds A through F. His work laid the essential chemical groundwork for understanding the adrenal gland.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

In 1950, Kendall was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with Philip S. Hench, a colleague at the Mayo Clinic, and Tadeus Reichstein of the University of Basel. The prize recognized their discoveries relating to the hormones of the adrenal cortex, their structure, and biological effects. Specifically, Kendall and Reichstein were honored for their independent work in isolating and characterizing numerous adrenal steroids, including the pivotal Compound E, later named cortisone. Hench's clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic then demonstrated cortisone's dramatic effect in treating rheumatoid arthritis, a milestone in pharmacology.

Later life and legacy

After retiring from the Mayo Clinic in 1951, Kendall joined the faculty at Princeton University, where he continued his research until his death in Princeton, New Jersey. His isolation of cortisone inaugurated the era of corticosteroid therapy, transforming the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and lupus. His rigorous biochemical approach set a high standard for research in endocrinology. The Mayo Clinic established the Mayo Foundation in his honor, and his papers are held in the archives of the University of Pennsylvania.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career, Kendall received numerous prestigious awards. In 1949, he received the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research. His Nobel Prize in 195 was his most distinguished honor. He was also a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and received the Passano Award in 1950. Several universities, including Yale University and the University of Cincinnati, awarded him honorary doctorates in recognition of his contributions to biochemistry and medicine.

Category:American biochemists Category:Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine Category:Mayo Clinic people