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​Carl Cori

An Immigrant Scientist Who Transformed American Medicine

BY STEPHANY NIETO MAY 27, 2026

 Carl Cori was a Czech-born scientist whose groundbreaking work transformed the field of biochemistry in the United States. Born in Prague on December 5, 1896, he studied medicine at the German University of Prague, where he met his wife and research partner, Gerty Cori. After serving in the Austrian Army during World War I, the couple immigrated to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 1928. Cori later became a professor at Washington University School of Medicine. Together, the Coris conducted pioneering research on how the body processes sugar and hormones, leading to the discovery of the “Cori Cycle,” which explained the conversion of glycogen in the body. Their work advanced the understanding of diabetes and metabolism and inspired generations of scientists. In 1947, Carl and Gerty Cori were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries in glycogen metabolism.

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​Carl Cori – Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach 2026. Tue. 26 May 2026. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1947/cori-cf/biographical/>

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