Luis Federico Leloir
Argentine biochemist who revolutionized understanding of sugar metabolism, winning the 1970 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Dr. Luis Federico Leloir (1906–1987) conducted groundbreaking research on carbohydrate metabolism under economic adversity. Working in a Buenos Aires garage-lab during Perón's regime, he discovered:
- Sugar nucleotides (1950s)
- Galactosemia disease mechanism
- Enzymatic basis of glycogen storage
His Leloir Pathway discovery explained how organisms convert galactose to glucose – vital for treating metabolic disorders. Despite Argentina's political turmoil, Leloir refused foreign job offers, establishing the Instituto Leloir to nurture local science.
Notable achievements:
| 1947 | Identified sugar nucleotides |
| 1970 | Nobel Prize on $300 lab budget |
| 1983 | Developed hepatitis B diagnostic test |
Leloir's frugal innovation model ("science with limited resources") remains influential across developing nations. He published his last paper at age 80, embodying lifelong dedication.
Literary Appearances
Cinematic Appearances
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