K. K. Chen
Encyclopedia
K. K. Chen was a world-renowned scientist who headed up pharmacological research at Eli Lilly and Company
for 34 years. He is known for his work with ephedrine
, cyanide poisoning therapy, and toad venom steroids. Tops among his many awards and recognitions is the prestigious Remington Honor Medal
for excellence in pharmacy in 1965.
studying the effects of ephedrine
. Upon finishing this appointment, he returned to the States to complete his studies with an MD from Johns Hopkins University
in 1927. He continued working at Johns Hopkins for a couple of years before accepting an offer in 1929 from Eli Lilly and Company
to be the Director of Pharmacological Research. He held this position until his retirement in 1963. [1] During this time, he also accepted a part-time faculty appointment from Indiana University
in 1937. Upon leaving Eli Lilly, he became full-time faculty and taught until 1968. [2]
to the western world. He developed his own isolation procedure from the Chinese herb Ma Huang (ephedra sinica). Its medicinal value was long known in China as a remedy for asthma
. Further research showed its value in treating hay fever
and whooping cough. Other studies that may be credited to him include the successful treatment of cyanide poisoning with nitrite-thiosulfate therapy, structure-activity relationship of over 400 cardiac glycosides and toad venom steroids, heptatotoxic action of Senecio alkaloids, and synthetic analgesic drugs of the methadone series. [3]
at a young age. He furthered his English with the debate team while at the University of Wisconsin and played the tuba with the ROTC. He graduated there in 1920 with Phi Beta Kappa honors and finished his PhD in 1923. In order to help his ailing mother, KK returned to China, continued his research, and taught classes at Peking Union Medical College
. There he met Amy Ling, his future wife. They courted for several years and got married in 1929 after returning to the states. [4] Upon KK's hiring at Eli Lilly and Company
, they settled down in Indianapolis, IN. Amy was a noted scientist herself and co-authored over 150 articles with her husband. KK also had a keen interest in Chinese art and helped Eli Lilly
amass a substantial collection which was eventually donated to the Indianapolis Museum of Art
. His favorite sport was baseball. After his retirement in 1968, they moved to San Francisco until his death in 1988. He currently rests next to Amy in Bellefontaine Cemetery
, St. Louis, MO.
1927 China Foundation Prize
1946 Honorary Sc.D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science
1952 Honorary Sc.D., Univ Wisconsin
1952 President, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
1956 State Dept Delegate, 1st General Assembly of Intl Union of Physiological Sciences, Brussels
1963 KK Chen Fellowship & Award established, Indiana University School of Medicine
1965 Remington Honor Medal
1966 AMA Distinguished Service Award
1971 Honorary Sc.D., Indiana-Purdue University
1972 President, International Union of Pharmacology
1974 Scientific Award, Chinese-American Medical Society
1987 KK Chen Auditorium dedicated, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
2006 KK Chen Memorial Exhibit dedicated, Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
for 34 years. He is known for his work with ephedrine
Ephedrine
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....
, cyanide poisoning therapy, and toad venom steroids. Tops among his many awards and recognitions is the prestigious Remington Honor Medal
Remington medal
The Remington Honor Medal, named for eminent community pharmacist, manufacturer, and educator Joseph P. Remington , was established in 1918 to recognize distinguished service on behalf of American pharmacy during the preceding year, culminating in the past year, or during a long period of...
for excellence in pharmacy in 1965.
Career
K. K. Chen (Ko Kuei Chen) was born in a small village near Shanghai in 1898. After studying in Peking, he arrived in the United States in 1918 for his higher education, earning a BS in 1920 and a PhD in 1923 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1923 KK returned to China to work with CF Schmidt at Peking Union Medical CollegePeking Union Medical College
Peking Union Medical College is among the most selective medical colleges in the People's Republic of China and is renowned both in its own right and for being connected to one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.-History:...
studying the effects of ephedrine
Ephedrine
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....
. Upon finishing this appointment, he returned to the States to complete his studies with an MD from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1927. He continued working at Johns Hopkins for a couple of years before accepting an offer in 1929 from Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
to be the Director of Pharmacological Research. He held this position until his retirement in 1963. [1] During this time, he also accepted a part-time faculty appointment from Indiana University
Indiana University School of Medicine
The Indiana University School of Medicine is a leading medical school and medical research powerhouse connected to Indiana University. With several teaching campuses in the state, the School of Medicine has its predominant research and medical center at the Indiana University – Purdue University...
in 1937. Upon leaving Eli Lilly, he became full-time faculty and taught until 1968. [2]
Research
K. K. Chen was mostly known for bringing ephedrineEphedrine
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....
to the western world. He developed his own isolation procedure from the Chinese herb Ma Huang (ephedra sinica). Its medicinal value was long known in China as a remedy for asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. Further research showed its value in treating hay fever
Hay Fever
Hay Fever is a comic play written by Noël Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 with Marie Tempest as the first Judith Bliss. Laura Hope Crews played the role in New York...
and whooping cough. Other studies that may be credited to him include the successful treatment of cyanide poisoning with nitrite-thiosulfate therapy, structure-activity relationship of over 400 cardiac glycosides and toad venom steroids, heptatotoxic action of Senecio alkaloids, and synthetic analgesic drugs of the methadone series. [3]
Personal life
Education was always an important factor in his life, learning the teachings of ConfuciusConfucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
at a young age. He furthered his English with the debate team while at the University of Wisconsin and played the tuba with the ROTC. He graduated there in 1920 with Phi Beta Kappa honors and finished his PhD in 1923. In order to help his ailing mother, KK returned to China, continued his research, and taught classes at Peking Union Medical College
Peking Union Medical College
Peking Union Medical College is among the most selective medical colleges in the People's Republic of China and is renowned both in its own right and for being connected to one of China's most prestigious institutions of higher learning.-History:...
. There he met Amy Ling, his future wife. They courted for several years and got married in 1929 after returning to the states. [4] Upon KK's hiring at Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
, they settled down in Indianapolis, IN. Amy was a noted scientist herself and co-authored over 150 articles with her husband. KK also had a keen interest in Chinese art and helped Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly (industrialist)
Eli Lilly was a pharmaceutical industrialist and philanthropist from Indiana, United States.- Business :Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Eli Lilly was President of Eli Lilly and Company. He was named for his grandfather, Colonel Eli Lilly, who founded the family business...
amass a substantial collection which was eventually donated to the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
. His favorite sport was baseball. After his retirement in 1968, they moved to San Francisco until his death in 1988. He currently rests next to Amy in Bellefontaine Cemetery
Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries
Bellefontaine Cemetery and the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri are adjacent burial grounds, which have numerous historic and extravagant tombstones and mausoleums. They are the necropolis for a number of prominent local and state politicians, as well as soldiers of the...
, St. Louis, MO.
Awards/Appointments
1920 Phi Beta Kappa, Univ Wisconsin1927 China Foundation Prize
1946 Honorary Sc.D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science
1952 Honorary Sc.D., Univ Wisconsin
1952 President, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics is an American academic society founded in late 1908 by John J. Abel of Johns Hopkins University , with the aim of promoting the growth of pharmacological research...
1956 State Dept Delegate, 1st General Assembly of Intl Union of Physiological Sciences, Brussels
1963 KK Chen Fellowship & Award established, Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
The Indiana University School of Medicine is a leading medical school and medical research powerhouse connected to Indiana University. With several teaching campuses in the state, the School of Medicine has its predominant research and medical center at the Indiana University – Purdue University...
1965 Remington Honor Medal
Remington medal
The Remington Honor Medal, named for eminent community pharmacist, manufacturer, and educator Joseph P. Remington , was established in 1918 to recognize distinguished service on behalf of American pharmacy during the preceding year, culminating in the past year, or during a long period of...
1966 AMA Distinguished Service Award
1971 Honorary Sc.D., Indiana-Purdue University
1972 President, International Union of Pharmacology
International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology
The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology is a voluntary, non-profit association representing the interests of scientists in pharmacology-related fields to facilitate Better Medicines through Global Education and Research around the world.-History:Established in 1959 as a section...
1974 Scientific Award, Chinese-American Medical Society
1987 KK Chen Auditorium dedicated, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, abbreviated FASEB, is a non-profit organization that is the principal umbrella organization of U.S. societies in the field of biological and medical research. FASEB organizes academic conferences and publishes scientific literature...
2006 KK Chen Memorial Exhibit dedicated, Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...