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Percy Lavon Julian ( 1899- 1975) was an African American research chemist and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of drugs used in medicine. Julian was born in Montgomery, Alabama, the son of a railway clerk and the grandson of a slave. He graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1920 and received a M.S. degree from Harvard University in 1923 and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Vienna in 1931. He taught chemistry at several universities and conducted research for private industries for many years before founding his own research firm, Julian Laboratories, Inc., in 1953.
Julian made his first major scientific contribution in 1935, when he synthesized physostigmine, the drug used in the treatment of glaucoma. Later in his career, Julian developed a soybean protein to be used as a coating for paper and as an ingredient in fire-extinguisher foam. He also worked on biomedical projects, developing steroidIn chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. Hundreds of distinct steroids have been identified in plants and animals. Their most important role in most living systems is as hormones.s from the soybean and synthesizing progesteroneProgesterone is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation and embryogenesis of humans and other species. Progesterone levels vary during the menstrual cycle and it is an ingredient of most birth control pills (a female hormone), testosteroneTestosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. It is the principal male sex hormone and the "original" anabolic steroid. Sources of testosterone Like other steroid hormones testosterone is derived from cholesterol. The largest amounts of testo (a male hormone), and cortisone. His work made possible the production of these drugs in large quantities, reducing the cost of treating hormonal deficiencies, arthritisArthritis (from Greek arthro joint + itis inflammation) is a group of conditions that affect the health of the bone joints in the body. One in three adult Americans suffer from some form of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as many women as me, and other disorders. In 1947 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACPThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People or NAACP is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States. It was founded in 1909, to work on behalf of black people. Members of the NAACP have referre) awarded him the Spingarn medal, its highest honor.
Julian sold his company in 1961, and in 1964 he founded Julian Associates and Julian Research Institute, which he managed for the rest of his life. He was eventually elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his scientific achievements.
Julian, Percy
Julian, Percy
