Ruby Hirose

Ruby Sakae Hirose (1904 to 1960) was an American biochemist and bacteriologist who did research on blood clotting and thrombin, on allergies, and on cancer using antimetabolites. Born in Kent, Washington, to Japanese immigrant parents who farmed near Seattle, she studied at the University of Washington, earning a bachelor degree in pharmacy in 1926 and a master degree in pharmacology in 1928. She was elected to membership of the research society Sigma Xi in 1931 and later worked at the University of Cincinnati and in the research division of the William S. Merrell Company, where she studied serums and antitoxins. She was active in Japanese American student groups while she was a student.