Helen Murray Free facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Murray Free
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Helen Free receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama, 2010
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Helen Murray
February 20, 1923 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | May 1, 2021 (aged 98) Elkhart, Indiana, U.S.
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| Alma mater | College of Wooster (BS) Central Michigan University (MA) |
| Known for | Self-testing systems for diabetes |
| Awards | Garvan–Olin Medal (1980) Kilby Award (1996) National Inventors Hall of Fame (2000) National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2009) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
Helen Murray Free (born February 20, 1923 – died May 1, 2021) was an American chemist and teacher. She is famous for changing how we test for diseases like diabetes. She developed many easy-to-use tests that people could do themselves.
Helen worked at a company called Miles Laboratories. The tests she helped create are still used today. Some are blood tests for diabetes, and others are urine tests. Her special "dip-and-read" strips made testing much simpler. This meant doctors and patients didn't always need to send samples to big labs.
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Early Life and Education
Helen Murray Free was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on February 20, 1923. Her father, James S. Murray, sold coal. Her mother, Daisy Piper Murray, passed away when Helen was only six years old.
Helen went to public schools in Youngstown, Ohio. She graduated in 1941 as the top student, or valedictorian, from Poland Seminary High School. She really wanted to go to the College of Wooster.
At first, Helen planned to study English and Latin to become a teacher. But things changed in December 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Many young men joined the army, leaving jobs open in science. Women were then encouraged to study science. Helen decided to switch her major to chemistry. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1944. She later said changing to chemistry was the "most terrific thing" that ever happened to her.
Amazing Career in Chemistry
Helen started looking for a job before she even finished college. She was offered a job at Miles Laboratories, known for making Alka-Seltzer. She wasn't very excited about it at first. But she took the job as a quality control chemist. This meant she tested the ingredients in the company's vitamins.
Soon, Helen got her wish to do research. She joined a biochemistry research team led by Alfred Free. They became research partners and later married in 1947.
Developing New Tests
Helen and Alfred first researched different antibiotics. Then, they started working on dry tests. Their team improved a tablet test called Clinitest. This tablet measured sugar (glucose) levels in the urine of people with diabetes. The tablet would change color to show the glucose level.
They also created Acetest, another tablet test for diabetes. And they made Ictotest, which could find signs of hepatitis A in urine. This test looked for a substance called bilirubin.
The "Dip-and-Read" Strips
The Frees wanted to make tests even easier than tablets. So, they worked together to create special strips. In 1956, they introduced Clinistix. This was the first "dip-and-read" test strip. It allowed people to quickly check glucose in urine by simply dipping a strip into a sample.
After Clinistix, they developed other strips. These strips could test for important signs of diseases, like proteins and ketones. Eventually, they created Multistix. This amazing strip could do many different urine tests at once. They made sure the different test areas on the strip didn't mix. Many other test strips were developed, including Uristix, Ketostix, and Dextrostix. Multistix is still used today!
Helen continued to advance in her career. She became the director of Specialty Test Systems. When Bayer Diagnostics bought Miles in 1978, she became Director of Marketing Services for the research division.
Helen also earned a Master of Arts degree in Management in 1978. She even taught management at Indiana University South Bend. By 1975, she had earned seven patents for her work on medical tests. She and her husband wrote a book together called Urinalysis in Laboratory Practice. This book is still important in the field today. Helen retired in 1982 but kept working as a consultant.
Later Years and Helping Others
After retiring, Helen became very active in promoting science education. She especially wanted to help girls and students from less privileged backgrounds. She supported programs like "Kids & Chemistry" and "Expanding Your Horizons." She wanted to inspire the next generation of scientists.
Personal Life
In 1947, Helen married Alfred Free, her research partner. They had six children together: Eric, Kurt, Jake, Bonnie, Nina, and Penny. Helen also helped raise Alfred's three stepchildren: Charles, Jane, and Barb.
Helen Free passed away on May 1, 2021, in Elkhart, Indiana. She was 98 years old and died from complications after a stroke.
Awards and Honors
Helen Free received many important awards for her work:
- In 1980, she received the Garvan–Olin Medal. This award honors women who have made great contributions to chemistry.
- In 1996, she received the Kilby Award for her lifetime achievements.
Helen was also a leader in the scientific community.
- She served as president of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry in 1990.
- In 1993, she was elected president of the American Chemical Society. She wanted to show everyone how chemistry helps improve our lives. The ACS even named an award after her, the Helen M. Free Award in Public Outreach.
In 2000, Helen Free was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This means her inventions were recognized as very important. Ten years later, in 2010, she received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama.
The work of Helen and Alfred Free on diagnostic test strips was recognized as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2010. This honor highlights important places and achievements in chemistry history. In 2011, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Helen Murray Free para niños
