World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Gertrude B. Elion

Gertrude B. Elion

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
70
Citations
21526
World Ranking
6915
National Ranking
3190

Chemistry

D-Index
69
Citations
20475
World Ranking
6108
National Ranking
1858

Gertrude B. Elion publication distribution in Chemistry in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Chemistry in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Gertrude B. Elion sits on this spectrum.

61–80 publications: 66 scientists 81–100 publications: 302 scientists 101–120 publications: 623 scientists 121–140 publications: 918 scientists 141–160 publications: 1,218 scientists 161–180 publications: 1,350 scientists 181–200 publications: 1,344 scientists 201–220 publications: 1,281 scientists 221–240 publications: 1,216 scientists 241–260 publications: 1,100 scientists 261–280 publications: 979 scientists 281–300 publications: 939 scientists 301–320 publications: 764 scientists 321–340 publications: 643 scientists 341–360 publications: 628 scientists 361–380 publications: 522 scientists 381–400 publications: 459 scientists 401–420 publications: 397 scientists 421–440 publications: 327 scientists 441–460 publications: 270 scientists 461–480 publications: 265 scientists 481–500 publications: 252 scientists 501–520 publications: 201 scientists 521–540 publications: 185 scientists 541–560 publications: 148 scientists 561–580 publications: 148 scientists 581–600 publications: 132 scientists 601–620 publications: 114 scientists 621–640 publications: 104 scientists 641–660 publications: 91 scientists 661–680 publications: 92 scientists 681–700 publications: 73 scientists 701–720 publications: 57 scientists 721–740 publications: 54 scientists 741–760 publications: 67 scientists 761–780 publications: 45 scientists 781–800 publications: 46 scientists 801–820 publications: 39 scientists 821–840 publications: 32 scientists 841–860 publications: 36 scientists 861–880 publications: 29 scientists 881–900 publications: 26 scientists 901–920 publications: 24 scientists 921–940 publications: 14 scientists 941–960 publications: 23 scientists 961–980 publications: 28 scientists 981–1,000 publications: 15 scientists 1,001–1,020 publications: 29 scientists 1,021–1,040 publications: 12 scientists 1,041–1,060 publications: 19 scientists 1,061–1,080 publications: 12 scientists 1,081–1,100 publications: 6 scientists 1,101–1,120 publications: 8 scientists 1,121–1,140 publications: 12 scientists 1,141–1,160 publications: 5 scientists 1,161–1,180 publications: 6 scientists 1,181–1,200 publications: 14 scientists 1,201–1,220 publications: 7 scientists 1,221–1,240 publications: 2 scientists 1,241–1,260 publications: 6 scientists 1,261–1,280 publications: 4 scientists 1,281–1,294 publications: 6 scientists 1,295+ publications: 100 scientists
61 publications 1,295+

This scientist: 194 publications — 30th percentile

30% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,295 publications or more.

Gertrude B. Elion D-index placement in Chemistry in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Chemistry scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Gertrude B. Elion sits on this spectrum.

40–41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 612 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 808 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 776 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 835 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 861 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 872 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 933 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 1,051 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 930 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 882 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 834 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 731 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 775 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 683 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 646 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 561 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 501 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 437 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 388 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 354 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 292 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 275 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 254 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 235 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 185 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 192 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 155 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 163 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 125 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 105 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 105 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 112 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 88 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 68 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 69 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 65 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 79 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 61 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 44 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 37 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 40 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 33 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 26 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 34 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 35 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 25 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 27 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 17 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 16 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 20 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 20 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 15 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 9 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 9 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 16 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 11 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 9 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 3 scientists 158 D-Index: 3 scientists 159+ D-Index: 98 scientists
40 D-Index 159+

This scientist: 69 D-Index — 66th percentile

66% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 159 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 1999 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1991 - US President's National Medal of Science "For her basic research which enhanced the sciences of chemistry and medicine by elucidating fundamental principles of drug-receptor interactions for nucleic acid antagonists.", Presented by President Bush at a White House Rose Garden Ceremony on September 16, 1991.
  • 1991 - Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
  • 1990 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1988 - Nobel Prize for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment
  • 1968 - Garvan–Olin Medal, American Chemical Society (ACS)

Overview

Gertrude B. Elion was affiliated with Duke University in the United States during their scientific career. Their research primarily focused on the field of Medicine, specifically within the subfield of Oncology.

The scientist's work concentrated on topics related to viral-associated cancers and disorders, an area prominently featured in their publications.

The recorded publication includes the paper titled "Effect of acyclovir [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine] on Epstein-Barr virus DNA replication," published in 2020 in UNC Libraries. This paper investigates the impact of antiviral treatment on viral DNA replication processes.

Frequent co-authors throughout their career included:

  • Brenda M. Colby
  • James S. Shaw
  • Joseph S. Pagano

Their published work appeared in venues such as:

  • UNC Libraries

Throughout their career, multiple honors were awarded to Gertrude B. Elion, including:

  • Nobel Prize (1988) for discoveries of important principles for drug treatment
  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences (1990)
  • Member of the National Academy of Medicine (1991)
  • US President's National Medal of Science (1991), awarded for basic research elucidating fundamental principles of drug-receptor interactions for nucleic acid antagonists, presented by President Bush
  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1999)
  • Garvan-Olin Medal from the American Chemical Society (1968)

Best Publications

  • Selectivity of action of an antiherpetic agent, 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine

    Gertrude B. Elion;Phillip A. Furman;James A. Fyfe;Paulo de Miranda

  • 9-(2-Hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine activity against viruses of the herpes group

    H. J. Schaeffer;Lilia Beauchamp;P. de Miranda;Gertrude B. Elion

  • The purine path to chemotherapy

    Gertrude B. Elion

  • Thymidine kinase from herpes simplex virus phosphorylates the new antiviral compound, 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine.

    J A Fyfe;P M Keller;P A Furman;R L Miller

  • Antagonists of nucleic acid derivatives. VIII. Synergism in combinations of biochemically related antimetabolites.

    Gertrude B. Elion;Samuel Singer;George H. Hitchings

  • On the Mechanism of Inactivation of Xanthine Oxidase by Allopurinol and Other Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines

    Vincent Massey;Hirochika Komai;Graham Palmer;Gertrude B. Elion

  • A comparison of the specificities of xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase.

    Thomas A. Krenitsky;Shannon M. Neil;Gertrude B. Elion;George H. Hitchings

  • Mechanism of action and selectivity of acyclovir.

    Gertrude B. Elion

  • Metabolic studies of allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase

    Gertrude B. Elion;Aylene Kovensky;George H. Hitchings

  • Potentiation by inhibition of drug degradation : 6-substituted purines and xanthine oxidase

    Gertrude B. Elion;Sandra Callahan;Henry Nathan;Samuel Bieber

  • Studies on Condensed Pyrimidine Systems. IX. The Synthesis of Some 6-Substituted Purines

    Gertrude B. Elion;Elizabeth Burgi;George H. Hitchings

  • Antagonists of nucleic acid derivatives. VII. 2, 4-Diaminopyrimidines.

    George H. Hitchings;Elvira A. Falco;Henry Vanderwerff;Peter B. Russell

  • Human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase. I. Purification, properties, and specificity.

    Thomas A. Krenitsky;Rhoda Papaioannou;Gertrude B. Elion

  • The biochemistry and mechanism of action of acyclovir.

    Gertrude B. Elion

  • Deoxycytidine kinase from calf thymus. Substrate and inhibitor specificity.

    T A Krenitsky;J V Tuttle;G W Koszalka;I S Chen

  • Renal clearance of oxipurinol, the chief metabolite of allopurinol

    Gertrude B. Elion;Ts'ai-Fan Yü;Alexander B. Gutman;George H. Hitchings

  • Acyclovir: Discovery, mechanism of action, and selectivity

    Elion Gb

  • Effect of Acycloguanosine Treatment on Acute and Latent Herpes Simplex Infections in Mice

    Hugh J. Field;Susanne E. Bell;Gertrude B. Elion;Anthony A. Nash

  • Adenosine kinase from rabbit liver. II. Substrate and inhibitor specificity.

    R.L. Miller;D.L. Adamczyk;W.H. Miller;G.W. Koszalka

  • Inhibition of herpes simplex virus-induced DNA polymerase activity and viral DNA replication by 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine and its triphosphate

    Unknown

  • Nobel lecture in physiology or medicine--1988. The purine path to chemotherapy.

    Gertrude B. Elion

Frequent Co-Authors

George H. Hitchings
George H. Hitchings York University
Darell D. Bigner
Darell D. Bigner Duke University
Henry S. Friedman
Henry S. Friedman Duke University
Owen W. Griffith
Owen W. Griffith Medical College of Wisconsin
Mark W. Dewhirst
Mark W. Dewhirst Duke University
Joanne Kurtzberg
Joanne Kurtzberg Duke University
Peter J. Houghton
Peter J. Houghton The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Daniel T. Laskowitz
Daniel T. Laskowitz Duke University
Glenn Dranoff
Glenn Dranoff Harvard Medical School
Francis Ali-Osman
Francis Ali-Osman Duke University

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