水蜜桃视频 Franklin University of Medicine and Science became the first medical institution in the United States to recognize a woman scientist through an honorary namesake on Jan. 27, 2004. As we mark more than two decades of inspired rebranding, RFU women in science and health care reflect on Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin’s historic contributions, which continue to improve the lot of humankind, present and future.

Kristin Schneider, PhD, professor and chair, Department of Psychology, and associate dean of research, College of Health Professions

Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin’s discovery of the structure of DNA profoundly impacted science and how we treat and understand disease. Her contribution to improving health goes well beyond the direct effect of her discovery. Her life inspired girls and young women to pursue science careers, and encouraged those scientists to speak up when their voices were in danger of being silenced. Dr. Franklin’s legacy highlights how diversity of thought is critical to innovation in science and improvements in health care. Her name serves as a call to action to train and amplify the work of scientists and healthcare providers who represent all identities and backgrounds. 

Stephanie Wu, DPM, MSc, FACFAS, dean, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What is inspiring about Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin expands far beyond her critical role in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA 70 years ago. While her discovery was undoubtedly essential to unlocking a world of new science, it is her life story, her dedication and drive for excellence that has inspired and continues to inspire. Some parallels can easily be drawn with Dr. Franklin’s life story and some of the struggles that our underrepresented students in STEM continue to face today. As educators, Dr. Franklin’s story serves as an important reminder of the role that we play in breaking down barriers and fostering future generations of scientists to continue to advance science and health.

Kimberley Darey, MD ’04, RFU trustee, president, Elmhurst Hospital

As I reflect on Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin’s pivotal role in unlocking one of the mysteries of genetics, her unwavering determination resonates deeply with me. Dr. Franklin’s groundbreaking work paved the way for monumental advancements in genetics that continue to transform medicine. Modern-day genetic studies have improved the outcomes for millions of people worldwide, and led to the understanding and treatment of life-threatening viral diseases that were previously incurable. As an alumna of 水蜜桃视频 Franklin University of Medicine and Science, I am immensely proud to witness and contribute to the ongoing innovations in research inspired by her legacy. RFU remains at the forefront of scientific exploration, embodying the cutting-edge spirit that Dr. Franklin exemplified.

Nicole Ferrara, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and biophysics

The neuroscience field is rapidly expanding, and with it comes the advent of new approaches that allow for a more thorough understanding of how the brain is shaped by events, such as development, aging and a changing environment. The discovery of DNA structure is a core component to many of these approaches (including transgenic animal lines, CRISPR, epigenetics and PCR strategies) that allow neuroscientists to understand how gene expression plays a role in basic and translational neuroscience. This is particularly important with the rising aging population and Alzheimer’s disease rates as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which have shed light on important interactions with how the social environment contributes to both behavior and brain function throughout the lifespan. Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin’s discovery of DNA has been truly foundational for this growing field and our understanding of how the brain is impacted by genetic variation and the interaction of genes and the environment for the development of new therapeutic tools.

Lise Eliot, PhD, professor of neuroscience

It has been deeply inspiring to be a faculty member at 水蜜桃视频 Franklin University since we changed the name in 2004. We brought our young daughter to the renaming ceremony to hear the Franklin family and astronaut Dr. Sally Ride praise this remarkable scientist and role model for women in technical fields. Our daughter grew up to become an accomplished architect, and I was inspired to launch the Women in Science and Healthcare (WiSH) annual symposium. WiSH has brought many high-profile speakers to RFU to discuss the pioneering discoveries — and persistent hurdles — of women in STEM. Their commitment and resilience are exemplified by 水蜜桃视频 Franklin and her brilliant work on the structure of coal, viruses and, of course, DNA. 

Neelam Sharma-Walia, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology

My research focuses on Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), which causes Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases, particularly in HIV-infected patients. KSHV is a large, double-stranded DNA virus. Understanding the mechanisms of virus infection is crucial for developing effective therapeutics. DNA virus labeling technologies have revolutionized our understanding of viral replication and can monitor virus particles in living cells in real time. This provides detailed knowledge of KSHV internalization, transportation, genome delivery, assembly and egress. Advanced DNA labeling and gene-editing CRISPR/Cas9 methods have simplified the investigation of KSHV infection’s role in tumor formation by analyzing cell proliferation (DNA synthesis), DNA repair and the cell cycle. These advancements in cancer therapeutics stem from Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin’s groundbreaking work in solving the DNA structure. 

Monika Waszczuk, PhD, associate professor of psychology

As a psychiatric geneticist, it is probably not surprising that I consider the discovery of the structure of DNA to be one of the most significant milestones in the history of science. At the heart of this breakthrough lies the indispensable contribution of Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin, whose pioneering work in X-ray crystallography provided crucial insights into the structure of DNA. Her groundbreaking images, particularly Photograph 51, contributed key evidence for the model of DNA, which elucidated how genetic information is stored and transmitted, laying the foundation for modern molecular biology and genetics. Dr. Franklin’s pivotal role in this discovery serves as a testament to the indispensable contributions of women in science and underscores the importance of diversity and inclusion in research. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists, including myself, emphasizing the significance of rigorous experimentation and the pursuit of truth in scientific inquiry.

Weihang “Valerie” Chai, PhD, professor, microbiology and immunology

The discovery of the double helical structure of DNA, and Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin’s crucial contributions through her X-ray diffraction studies, laid the most critical foundation for scientists to discover the process of DNA replication, recombination and repair. Without it, we would not have known how our cells preserve the genetic information and how they work, and we would not have understood what causes diseases and how cancers are developed. Research on understanding DNA, the genome and genetics, has all been based on this critical knowledge of DNA double helical structure. Many tools used in current research like molecular cloning, gene editing and sequencing/genomics were developed because of our understanding of the double helical DNA structure. This breakthrough has catalyzed transformative advancements in understanding the mechanisms underlying genome stability, leading to the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for genetic diseases and cancer. From personalized medicine approaches that leverage genomic information to targeted therapies that exploit specific genetic vulnerabilities, the structure of DNA has revolutionized the delivery of health care by enabling more precise and effective interventions tailored to individual genetic profiles. This foundational knowledge continues to drive discoveries that facilitate disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

Jennifer Greenwood, PhD, CRNA, associate professor of nurse anesthesia

As we see rising levels of chronic disease with a genetic component and hereditary cancers, especially breast cancer, a specific competency in genomics is essential to nursing practice. This is an emerging area of concentration for nursing, and is expected to benefit patients through interpreting appropriate genetic diagnostic testing and implementing specific therapeutic interventions. The foundational work of Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin has paved the way for our understanding of the role that genetics plays in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. We have been able to create much more targeted and effective treatment options with that knowledge. I’m pleased to work at a university that celebrates this pioneer scientist, and which supports the role of nursing as a means to increase access to high-quality care. 

Janice Urban, PhD, professor, physiology and biophysics

Dr. Franklin’s observation leading to the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA was a tremendous scientific breakthrough. However, the impact of her work is constantly being reinforced as many of the techniques we, and others, use to identify stress-sensitive neurocircuitry relies on genetic tools made possible by her initial discovery. These tools, along with the identification of genetic factors that contribute to stress resilience and vulnerability, improve our understanding of the complexity of mental-health disorders.

Joanna Dabrowska, PhD, PharmD, associate professor, cellular and molecular pharmacology, neuroscience

Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin impacted my academic journey in remarkable ways. Scientifically, the discovery of the double-stranded DNA structure was simply the greatest discovery of the 20th century. It impacted the science and lives of all of us, whether we understand the impact or not. I often hear voices undermining Dr. Franklin’s discovery — that she made the famous X-ray DNA photograph, but she did not know how to interpret it. When I hear these voices, I think about how much scientific voice, as a woman, Dr. Franklin actually had in 1952 to express and convey her scientific thinking. The fact that her Photograph 51 was shown to Watson and Crick without her knowledge tells me that she was not treated equally by her male colleagues. Seventy years later, women scientists still need to raise their voices in scientific meetings to be heard and seen. Dr. 水蜜桃视频 Franklin reminds us that it is our duty to give a voice to a brilliant mind, which at first sight might look different than a scientist-on-the-wall portrait.