Youyou Tu
Born 1930 · Age 95
Chinese pharmaceutical chemist and malariologist who discovered artemisinin and dihydroartemisinin; Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2015).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Youyou Tu born in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China.
Entered Ningbo Chongde Primary School
Attended private Ningbo Chongde Primary School (1936–1941).
Transferred to Ningbo Maoxi Primary School
Attended private Ningbo Maoxi Primary School (1941–1943).
Attended Ningbo Qizheng Middle School
Attended private Ningbo Qizheng Middle School (1943–1945).
Attended Ningbo Yongjiang Girls' School
Attended private Ningbo Yongjiang Girls’ School (1945–1946).
Contracted tuberculosis; two-year break
At age 16 she contracted tuberculosis and took a two-year break from studies (roughly 1946–1948); this influenced her decision to pursue medical research.
Resumed studies at Ningbo Xiaoshi High School
Attended private Ningbo Xiaoshi High School (1948–1950) after TB treatment.
Attended Ningbo High School
Completed first year at Ningbo High School (1950–1951) prior to university entrance.
Accepted to Peking University Medical School (Beijing Medical College)
Entered Department of Pharmacy / Medical School at Peking University (attended 1951–1955).
Started first job researching Chinese materia medica
Began lifelong research career at the Academy; first project included study of Lobelia chinensis (schistosomiasis).
Graduated and assigned to Institute of Chinese Materia Medica
Graduated Beijing Medical College (School of Pharmacy) and was assigned to the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica at the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (later China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences).
First publication on Lobelia chinensis
Coauthored pharmacognostical study of Lobelia chinensis with mentor Lou Zhicen (first published work, 1958).
Full-time TCM training program (start)
Started a full-time training program on Chinese medical theory and practice organized by the Ministry of Health for Western-trained professionals (1959–1962).
Completed TCM training program
Completed the two-and-a-half-year traditional Chinese medicine training (end of program, 1962).
China military institutes start antimalarial research (context)
China began confidential antimalarial research in 1964 in response to rising chloroquine-resistant malaria (context for later Project 523 work).
National 'Project 523' established (context)
Chinese leadership established the secret nationwide antimalarial research program Project 523 on 23 May 1967 to coordinate research against drug‑resistant malaria.
Appointed head of Project 523 research group
Appointed to lead Project 523 research group at the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica to search for antimalarial drugs among traditional Chinese medicines.
Personal sacrifice during Project 523
When accepting the antimalarial task in 1969 she left her younger daughter with her parents and sent her elder daughter to a full-time nursery to focus on research; family hardship lasting several years.
Compiled and circulated 640 antimalarial prescriptions brochure
Collected >2,000 herbal/animal/mineral prescriptions and summarized 640 prescriptions in a brochure 'Antimalarial Collections of Recipes and Prescriptions' circulated via Project 523 office in April 1969.
Started preparing and testing herbal extracts
From May 1969 extracts of over 100 herbs were prepared and tested in rodent malaria models (screening continued through June 1971).
Neutral fraction effective in monkeys
Between December 1971 and January 1972 the neutral fraction of the Qinghao extract showed effectiveness in malaria‑infected monkeys.
Sample No. 191: Qinghao ethyl ether extract 100% effective in mice
On 4 October 1971 sample #191 (Qinghao ethyl ether extract) showed 100% inhibition of malaria parasites in rodent malaria models — a symbolic breakthrough.
Additional clinical cases in Beijing No. 302 Hospital
Around the same period (1972) nine malaria patients were successfully treated with Qinghao extract at Beijing No. 302 Hospital.
Used traditional texts to guide extraction method
Re-examined Ge Hong's ancient handbook recommending cold extraction and 'wring out the juice', leading to low-temperature extraction that preserved active component in Qinghao.
Started large-scale production of Qinghao extract
Beginning March 1972 the team began producing large quantities of Qinghao extract for clinical studies, improvising extraction with household equipment due to limited manufacturing support.
Reported artemisinin findings at Project 523 meeting in Nanjing
On 8 March 1972 reported the positive results to the National Project 523 meeting in Nanjing, generating nationwide interest.
Initial crystal isolation attempts (Apr–Jun 1972)
Between April and June 1972 a few crystals were isolated from Qinghao extract during purification work.
Volunteer safety self-administration of extracts
In July 1972 Tu and two team members voluntarily took Qinghao extracts under clinical monitoring; no side effects observed in one-week test window; subsequent dose‑escalation volunteers followed.
First clinical trial in Hainan (21 patients)
Between August and October 1972 conducted first clinical trial of Qinghao extract in Hainan treating 21 local and migrant malaria patients (9 P. falciparum, 11 P. vivax, 1 mixed). All recovered.
Isolated active crystalline compound (Nov 1972)
November 1972: several crystals were isolated using silica gel column chromatography; one proved effective and was later named artemisinin (qinghaosu).
National Project 523 meeting in Beijing: reported clinical success
November 1972: success of clinical trials and animal studies was reported at the National Project 523 meeting held in Beijing.
Began determining chemical structure of artemisinin
December 1972: determination of artemisinin's chemical formula began; identified as a new sesquiterpene lactone with formula C15H22O5 (MW 282).
Appointed Head of Chemistry Department (1973–1990)
In 1973 she became head of the Chemistry Department at the Institute (served 1973–1990).
Clinical trial with artemisinin tablets (Aug–Oct 1973)
Aug–Oct 1973: trial with artemisinin tablets failed because tablets were too hard to disintegrate; study resumed with capsules end of September 1973.
Artemisinin capsules: small successful clinical treatments
End of September 1973: resumed treatment with artemisinin capsules; three patients treated and all recovered (end of epidemic season limited sample size).
Discovery of dihydroartemisinin (Sept 1973)
In Sept 1973 during derivatization experiments using sodium borohydride, dihydroartemisinin was discovered; shown to be more potent in rodent tests.
Began collaborations for structural analysis
Started collaboration (1974) with the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry and the Institute of Biophysics (CAS) for chemical structure analysis of artemisinin.
Absolute stereostructure determined by X-ray crystallography
Mid-1970s: stereo structure of artemisinin was determined using X‑ray crystallography at the Institute of Biophysics (establishing absolute molecular configuration).
Work published anonymously (1977)
Findings related to artemisinin were published anonymously in 1977 (reflecting publication restrictions at the time).
Award for Progress in Antimalarial Research (1978)
Received Award for Progress in Antimalarial Research Achieved by the Project 523 Scientific Team by the China National Science Conference.
Promoted to Associate Professor; National Scientific Discovery Award
Promoted to associate professor (1979–1985) and received the National Scientific Discovery Award / National Inventor's Prize (1979).
Promoted to Researcher (top researcher rank)
Promoted to the rank of Researcher (equivalent to full professor) in 1980.
Presented artemisinin findings at World Health Organization meeting
Presented results related to artemisinin at a WHO meeting in 1981, increasing international visibility of the discovery.
China National Congress for Science and Technology Invention Award (1982)
Awarded the Invention Award (as first inventor) by the China National Congress for Science and Technology in 1982.
Award for Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions (1984)
Received a national award acknowledging outstanding professional contributions (China State Council).
Promoted to Professor
Promoted to professor in 1985 (academic rank advancement).
Artemisinin New Drug Certificate (1986)
China Ministry of Health granted an Artemisinin New Drug Certificate to the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica in 1986.
Ended tenure as Head of Chemistry Department (1990)
Concluded service as head of the Chemistry Department (served 1973–1990).
Dihydroartemisinin New Drug Certificate (1992)
China Ministry of Health granted a Dihydroartemisinin New Drug Certificate in 1992; also received multiple national science & technology awards in 1992.
Top national science & technology awards (1992)
Received multiple recognitions in 1992: Highest Honorary Award of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Top Ten National Achievements for Progress in Science and Technology, and First-rate Award of National Achievements in Science and Technology.
National Model Worker & Guangzhou Zhongjing Award (1995)
Received the National Model Worker award (State Council) and Outstanding Achievement in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Guangzhou Zhongjing Award Foundation) in 1995.
Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award (1996)
Received the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award from the Hong Kong Qiu Shi Science and Technologies Foundation in 1996.
Named head of Artemisinin Research Center
Became head of the Artemisinin Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (1997– ).
Top Ten Healthcare Achievements in New China (1997)
Artemisinin recognized among the Top Ten Healthcare Achievements in New China (China Ministry of Health, 1997).
Promoted to Academic Advisor for Doctoral Candidates
Promoted in 2001 to academic advisor for doctoral candidates at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.
Woman Inventor of the New Century award (2002)
Received the Woman Inventor of the New Century award from the China National Bureau of Intellectual Property in 2002.
Prince Mahidol Award (2003) & National Invention Exh. gold medal (2003)
Awarded the Prince Mahidol Award (Thailand) in 2003 and Golden Medal of the 14th National Invention Exhibition (China National Bureau of IP) in 2003.
Published autobiography
Published an autobiography (reported published in 2009), recounting discovery, career, and personal history.
Cyrus Chung Ying Tang Foundation Award (2009)
Received the Award for Development of Chinese Materia Medica by the Cyrus Chung Ying Tang Foundation in 2009.
GlaxoSmithKline Outstanding Achievement Award (Sep 2011)
Received the China GlaxoSmithKline Award for Outstanding Achievements in Life Science in Sep 2011.
Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award (Sep 2011)
Awarded the 2011 Lasker–DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award (shared recognition for artemisinin discovery); first Chinese recipient of the Lasker Award.
Outstanding Contribution Award (Nov 2011)
Received an Outstanding Contribution Award from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in November 2011.
National Outstanding Women (March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter) (2012)
Recognized as one of the Ten National Outstanding Women (Red Banner Pacesetter) in February/March 2012.
Global impact milestone: 200 million malaria patients treated
By the time of the Nobel Prize, more than 200 million malaria patients had received artemisinin or artemisinin combination therapies (multi‑decade cumulative impact).
Warren Alpert Foundation Prize (June 2015)
Co-recipient of the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize (June 2015) recognizing breakthroughs against malaria.
Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (Oct 5, 2015)
Shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 'for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria' (shared half of prize). First PRC female citizen to win a Nobel Prize; first Chinese Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine.
Nobel Prize award ceremony (Dec 10, 2015)
Attended Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm and delivered Nobel-related activities (ceremony traditionally 10 December).
Highest Science and Technology Award, China (2016)
Awarded the Highest Science and Technology Award of China in 2016 (one of the nation's top honors).
Named to Asian Scientist 100 (2016)
Included in the Asian Scientist 100 list in 2016.
Authored book: From Artemisia annua L. to Artemisinins (2017)
Published a scientific book detailing discovery and development of artemisinins (Tu, Y., 2017).
Named to Asian Scientist 100 (2019)
Included again in the Asian Scientist 100 list in 2019.
Bestowed Medal of the Republic (Sept 2019)
Received the Medal of the Republic, the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China, in September 2019.
Status: Chief Scientist and ongoing research
Continues as chief scientist (China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences) and remains active in research into artemisinin mechanisms, resistance prevention and expanded clinical applications.
Elected International Member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2025)
Listed as elected International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (source lists election 2025).
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