Lucy Wills, the scientist who discovered how to prevent anemia during pregnancy – 05/10/2019

On the occasion of the 131st anniversary of its birth, Google has dedicated this Friday a doodle to the English hematologist Lucy Wills, who discovered a nutritional factor for to cure and prevent macrocytic anemia during pregnancy.

Born that day in 1888, Lucy Wills attended Cheltenham College for Young Ladies, one of the first British residential schools to train science and math students.

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In 1911, she received her first honors in Botany and Geology at Newnham College of the University of Cambridge, another institution at the forefront of women's education, followed by the London School of Medicine to women physicians. .

He went to India to investigate a serious form of life-threatening anemia which affects pregnant textile workers in Bombay.

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Suspecting that malnutrition was the cause, he discovered what became known as the "Will factor" when the health of a laboratory monkey improved after being fed with the British Marmite breakfast, a yeast extract.

Subsequent investigations have shown that the factor is the Folic acid, which is now recommended to pregnant women around the world.

Recalled by his sense of ironic humor, Wills loved climbing, cross-country skiing and cycling to get to work instead of driving in a car. He has spent a large part of his life traveling the world and working for the health of expectant mothers.