Alma Levant Hayden (March 30, 1927 – August 2, 1967) was a pioneering African-American chemist who made significant contributions to the field of analytical chemistry and regulatory science. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Hayden initially planned to become a nurse but discovered a passion for chemistry during her studies.
Hayden’s academic journey began at South Carolina State College, where she graduated with honors in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She then pursued a master’s degree in chemistry from Howard University, studying under renowned chemist Lloyd Noel Ferguson. Her expertise in spectrophotometry and chromatography led her to join the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the early 1950s, where she conducted research on infrared techniques and published in various scientific journals.
In 1963, Hayden joined the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Chief of the Spectrophotometer Research Branch in the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, becoming the first African-American scientist at the agency. Her most notable achievement came that same year when she led the team that exposed the true nature of Krebiozen, a controversial and expensive drug promoted as an anti-cancer treatment. Hayden’s analysis revealed that Krebiozen was simply creatine, a common substance with no anti-cancer properties. This discovery not only debunked false medical claims but also reinforced the importance of evidence-based treatments in public health. Hayden’s work continues to influence regulatory science today, and she remains an inspiration for diversity and inclusion in the scientific community.
References:
- https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-history-exhibits/alma-levant-haydens-contributions-regulatory-science
- https://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/25/2/from-the-annals-of-nih-history
- https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/women-scientists/alma-levant-hayden.html
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alma-levant-hayden-first-black-woman-in-the-fda
Image: By NIH photographer, name not known – NIH History Office https://www.flickr.com/photos/historyatnih/32897938662/in/album-72157680816283366/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58582806
