Today, we celebrate Dr. Evelyn Carmon Nicol for Black History Month — a brilliant scientist, trailblazer, and pioneer in microbiology and immunology, whose groundbreaking work continues to save lives around the world.
A proud graduate of Tuskegee University, where she majored in chemistry and mathematics and graduated at the top of her class, Dr. Nicol began her research career at the Carver Research Foundation. There, she contributed to the production of HeLa cell lines that supported the development of the polio vaccine — one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.
Throughout her distinguished career, she:
• Became the first to successfully isolate the Herpes Zoster virus (shingles)
• Isolated the leukemia agent, advancing cancer research
• Earned a 1976 patent for a new method of producing urokinase to prevent blood clots
• Developed a screening test at Abbott Laboratories to detect exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women
• Led groundbreaking diagnostic research at Baxter Pharmaceuticals for blood-borne diseases including HTLV-1 and HIV
Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Nicol championed equity in STEM, advocating for fair hiring practices and encouraging underrepresented communities to pursue scientific careers.
Her brilliance, perseverance, and dedication opened doors and strengthened the fields of virology and immunology.
Today, we celebrate her legacy.
We celebrate her impact.
We celebrate Dr. Evelyn Carmon Nicol.
