Who won the Nobel Prize last year for a malaria medicine?

Who won the Nobel Prize last year for a malaria medicine?

• A. Alexander Fleming
• B. Jonas Salk
• C. Tu Youyou
• D. Louis Pasteur

Answer: (C)

This question tests your knowledge of a landmark malaria treatment breakthrough and who made it possible. Tu Youyou led the discovery of artemisinin, a powerful anti-malarial drug derived from sweet wormwood. By examining traditional Chinese medicine and then validating it with modern methods, she identified artemisinin as effective against the parasite and helped develop artemisinin-based combination therapies, which became a frontline treatment that dramatically reduced malaria deaths. For this life-saving work, she received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015, making her a historic laureate for contributions that connect traditional knowledge to modern medicine. The other figures are famous for discoveries in other areas—antibiotics or vaccines for different diseases—not for malaria medicines.

This question tests your knowledge of a landmark malaria treatment breakthrough and who made it possible. Tu Youyou led the discovery of artemisinin, a powerful anti-malarial drug derived from sweet wormwood. By examining traditional Chinese medicine and then validating it with modern methods, she identified artemisinin as effective against the parasite and helped develop artemisinin-based combination therapies, which became a frontline treatment that dramatically reduced malaria deaths. For this life-saving work, she received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015, making her a historic laureate for contributions that connect traditional knowledge to modern medicine. The other figures are famous for discoveries in other areas—antibiotics or vaccines for different diseases—not for malaria medicines.