Jane Anne Russell

Jane Anne Russell (1911–1967) was an endocrinologist. She researched pituitary extract.

Education

Russell graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, California, in 1928, as the second best student in her class. She pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at University of California Berkeley, and graduated in 1932 as first in her class. She was awarded the California fellowship in Biochemistry in 1934 and the Rosenburg fellowship in 1935.

Russell's PhD studies were at the Institute of Experimental Biology at the University of California, focusing on the study of pituitary hormones in carbohydrate metabolism. She then did post-doctoral research on a Porter fellowship from the American Physiological Society.

Career

In 1938 she moved to Yale University, where she remained until 1950. During 1954–57 Russell worked on the committee of the United States National Research Council, then during 1958–64 the National Science Foundation.

Pituitary gland

Russell's major research indicated that fasting rats lose muscle glycogen following pituitary removal and injections of pituitary extract can prevent weight loss. She determined the relationship between the anterior lobe pituitary and carbohydrates. Her work allowed the further isolation and identification of growth hormones.

Recognition

Russell was awarded the Kraft Prize, Phi beta Kappa key, Steward Scholarship, and University Gold Medal. Later she received the CIBA award of the Endocrine Society. She worked on the National Institutes of Health peer review committee, and was vice president of the endocrine society. Russell was then awarded the Upjohn award of the Endocrine Society and elected a member of Sigma Xi.

Personal life

Russell married Alfred Ellis Wilhelmi in 1940. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and origami. Russell developed breast cancer in 1962, but worked to the end of her life.