The first person to discover the effects of oxygen free radicals on cell death and aging.
Rebeca Gerschman was an Argentinian biologist and physiologist who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Buenos Aires. After receiving her doctorate, she began research on oxygen poisoning and soon became the first person to link the presence of oxygen free radicals to cell death and aging (1953). Unfortunately, this theory was not widely accepted by the scientific community until 1969, when another group’s work on superoxide dismutase enzymes confirmed her theory. In addition to scientific achievements, Gerschman was also a significant advocate for women’s rights in the scientific field. In her honor, the Rebeca Gerschman Award was set up for women researchers in Argentina who have made significant contributions towards advancing science and training human resources.