Helen Murray Free

(1923 – 2021) chemist

What is Helen Murray Free known for?

Helen Murray Free, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 20, 1923, was a renowned American chemist and educator. A graduate of Poland Seminary High School in Youngstown, Ohio, Free transformed the world of in-vitro self-testing systems for diabetes and other diseases. She is most known for her work at Miles Laboratories, where she developed dip-and-read test strips. These strips revolutionized testing by making it more convenient and efficient, reducing the reliance of doctors and patients on laboratories for results.

Free's early life was marked by perseverance. Her mother passed away when she was just six years old, but she continued to excel in her studies, graduating as the valedictorian of her high school. Influenced by her English teacher, she initially intended to major in English and Latin to become a teacher. However, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, she, along with many other women, was encouraged to pursue a career in the sciences, a field previously dominated by men. She thus switched her major to chemistry, a move she described as the "most terrific thing" that ever happened to her.

In her professional life, Free initially worked as a quality control chemist for Miles Laboratories, testing the quality of ingredients in the company's line of vitamins. Her dream of doing research was eventually realized when she filled a position in the biochemistry research group led by Alfred Free, who would become her lifelong research partner and husband. Together, they conducted important research in the field of dry reagent systems and produced significant advancements in medical technology, such as the refinement of Clinitest, a tablet that measured glucose levels in urine.

Over the years, Free's contributions to science have been recognized with numerous awards. These include the Garvan–Olin Medal in 1980, the Kilby Award in 1996, induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2000, and ultimately, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2009.

Helen Murray Free passed away on May 1, 2021, in Elkhart, Indiana, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, resilience, and commitment to bettering medical science.