Yellapragada Subbarao (12 January 1895 – 9 August 1948) was an Indian biochemist who discovered the function of adenosine triphosphate as an energy source in the cell, and developed methotrexate for the treatment of cancer. Most of his career was spent in the United States. Despite his isolation of ATP, Subbarao was denied tenure at Harvardl.
He was born to a Telugu Niyogi Brahmin family in Bhimavaram of the Old Madras Presidency, now in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
He discovered a drug for Filariasis as well and discovered the role of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) in muscular activity. Yet no Nobel prize was awarded !
It fills with pride to note that such a magnanimous scientist was an Indian. I am certain most people including doctors wouldn't have heard of Yellapragada Subbarao, the developer of Methotrexate a wonderful chemotherapeutic agent that is found to be useful not only against cancer but also against many debilitating auto-immune diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Psoriasis etc.
What is striking to note is the unostentatiousness of this great scientist who gave to humanity two wonderful drugs. In spite of being a man of high caliber, like those typical Indians of a bygone era, he remained hidden from the public eye, untouched by any fanfare.
The world's memory of Subbarao has been obscured by the achievements of others and his failure to promote his own interests. Part of the reason for his obscurity was that Subbarao did not market his work, or himself. A patent attorney was once astonished to find that he had not taken any of the steps that scientists everywhere consider routine for linking their name to their handiwork. He never granted interviews to the press; he never made the rounds of the academies which apportion accolades[citation needed]; nor did he go on lecture tours[citation needed].
His colleague, George Hitchings, who shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Gertrude Elion, said, "Some of the nucleotides isolated by Subbarao had to be rediscovered years later by other workers because Fiske, apparently out of jealousy, did not let Subbarao's contributions see the light of the day."
A fungus was named Subbaromyces splendens in his honor by American Cyanamid.
Writing in the April 1950 issue of Argosy, Doron K. Antrim observed,"You've probably never heard of Dr. Yellapragada Subbarao. Yet because he lived you may be alive and are well today. Because he lived you may live longer.
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He's a Forgotten Hero,Even The Govt of India Dint Bother ro felicitate this amazing Personality. He Deserves nothing less than a Bharat Ratna.
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