In 1960s and 1970s, under the conditions of backward equipment and harsh environment, the 523 project team led by Tu Youyou overcame many difficulties and experienced many failures. After drug trial, artemisinin, a drug for treating malaria, was finally found. After several episodes of TV series, we have portrayed the image of a scientist who devoted himself to the cause of science and overcame all difficulties. So, from an ordinary scientist to a Nobel Prize winner, what did Tu Youyou do right?
One: Don't give up after suffering.
As we all know, scientific experiments can't be successful once, and it's not always easy for Tu Youyou to find a cure for malaria. I have been questioned by others, and I have tried many drugs to treat malaria, and I have failed many times. But she didn't want to give up this task until she found an effective drug to treat malaria.
In the play, what impressed me the most was that there were two plots:
The first plot is that when Tu Youyou and his team finally found artemisinin, an effective component for treating malaria, they were refining artemisinin in the laboratory. One day, the laboratory caught fire unexpectedly and burned to the ground. All previous efforts were in vain. Although she is distressed, she is not depressed. After adjusting her mentality, she comforted the team members and told them that the fire was actually a reminder of the safety management of the laboratory. Tu Youyou, they cheer up and continue to do the experiment.
Another plot is that before verifying that Artemisia annua extract is non-toxic, a lot of experiments are needed to ensure that it is non-toxic before giving it to people. After Tu Youyou gave artemisinin to dogs for the first time, those dogs were old, got various diseases and died after taking it, which could not prove the efficacy of artemisinin. The second time, she experimented with some dogs. At this time, Tu Youyou is under great pressure, because if it is not successful, artemisinin can only be abandoned. She worried all night and dreamed that all the dogs were dead. After waking up, she still doesn't worry about the dog doing the experiment. She went to the Chinese medicine clinic to see the dog in the middle of the night until she was sure that the dog was not dead.
It is precisely because of her indomitable spirit that after repeated failures, she started again and faced challenges until she finally found a new antimalarial drug. This spirit is worth learning, and it is also an important factor for her to become a Nobel Prize winner.
Two: When encountering difficulties, try to change direction.
Zhang Jean-Tu Youyou, president of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, served as the leader of the 523 research group and asked her to find antimalarial drugs. Tu Youyou and others began to study dichroine, trying to overcome its toxic and side effects. Many methods have been tried, and the experimental results are not satisfactory. Since this method didn't work, she put forward another idea.
After a period of time, they found that pepper extract and pepper extract plus alum had higher inhibition rate on plasmodium in rat malaria model. After making the new medicine, Tu Youyou and others went to Hainan Island for clinical treatment. After taking Zanthoxylum bungeanum water pill, it seems that Zanthoxylum bungeanum water pill can relieve the symptoms of patients, but the patients still have a fever and the suppressed plasmodium continues to be active, which shows that Zanthoxylum bungeanum water pill can't completely kill them and can only give up this route.
They continue to look for other ways. Tu Youyou and her team members screened and sorted out antimalarial prescriptions. They tried the traditional Chinese medicine repeatedly mentioned in the antimalarial prescription one by one. After many twists and turns, they finally found a plant artemisinin that can effectively treat malaria. Artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua, made into medicine, then put into small animals for experiments, and finally put into people for experiments to determine the therapeutic effect of artemisinin on malaria.
Tu Youyou's search for artemisinin was not smooth sailing, but she didn't just stare at one direction. When a solution fails, she tries to work in another direction and continues to use another method until the goal is achieved.
Three: Dare to doubt and keep trying.
It is necessary to extract artemisinin after it is found that artemisinin can treat malaria. They just started to decoct Artemisia annua with water in the usual way, but it didn't meet expectations. After consulting ancient books, Tu Youyou found that the method used in ancient times was to extract artemisinin by wringing juice.
At this time, her team members felt that she was suspicious of Chinese medicine and Chinese medicine decoction and told her to stop this behavior. But Tu Youyou said that doubt is the starting point of truth discovery, and scientific research should not be restricted. Whether it is medicinal materials bought from Chinese medicine shops or plants growing in the wild, whether it is decoction or juice, as long as new antimalarial drugs are developed and can save lives, we must boldly try.
After a series of experiments in Tu Youyou, it was proved that the neutral part of Artemisia annua was extracted by using boiling point and ether as solvent, which proved that artemisinin was really useful for malaria prevention and laid the foundation for malaria treatment in the future.
Tu Youyou dared to look at the problem with suspicion when he encountered ideas different from those of authority. While putting forward his own ideas, he tried to prove that his ideas were correct, instead of blindly thinking that authority was correct. Only dare to doubt and try boldly can we find the real answer.
It is precisely because of these characteristics that Tu Youyou went from an ordinary scientist to the discovery of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug, and finally became a Nobel Prize winner. Judging from Tu Youyou's life experience, life is not smooth sailing, but as long as you persist, constantly adjust your direction, dare to doubt and keep trying, you will achieve your goal one day.