Scientists

Key Facts: Dr. Cicely Williams

* Origin: Born in the parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica.

* Education: One of the first female physicians to graduate from the University of Oxford.

* Medical Discovery (Kwashiorkor): Identified that Kwashiorkor was specifically a protein deficiency disease.

* Medical Discovery (Vomiting Sickness): Identified that the 1961 outbreak was caused by the hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) effect of eating unripe ackee.

* Global Role: Served as an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) in maternal and child health.

* Honors: Awarded the Order of Merit (OM), Jamaica's 4th highest national honor.

Some Jamaican Scientists

Dr. Cicely Williams

* A Jamaican from the parish of Westmoreland who was one of the first female physicians to graduate from the University of Oxford.

* Discovered that Kwashiorkor was a protein deficiency disease.

* Discovered that the 1961 vomiting sickness outbreak was due to the hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar) effect of eating unripe ackee.

* Received the Order of Merit (Jamaica), the 4th highest national honour.

* Was an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the field of maternal and child health.

1. Dr. Thomas P. Lecky

* A Jamaican farmer who developed a new species of cattle called the "Jamaica Hope."

* This breed is excellent for both milk and beef.

2. Dr. Paula Tennant

* A biologist and botanist working at the University of the West Indies.

* Worked on the development of the Jamaica Solo Sunrise papaya.

* This variety is resistant to the papaya ring spot disease, which otherwise causes severe debilitation and death of the trees.

3. Professor the Hon. Manley West

* Conducted extensive work with the marijuana (cannabis) plant.

* Extracted two specific compounds:

* Canasol: An eye drop medication used to treat patients with glaucoma.

* Asmasol: Used for the treatment of asthma.

4. Professor Errol Morrison

* World-renowned for research into diabetes mellitus.

* Served as an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO).

5. Dr. Henry Lowe

* Extracted a chemical from cannabis used to treat a rare type of cancer called acute myeloid leukemia.

* This drug has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Historical Scientist

6. Robert Hooke (1635–1703)

* Discovered the cellular units of life while studying plant cells.

* Developed the Law of Elasticity.