# Elizabeth Blackburn

_Australian-American biological researcher_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/elizabeth-blackburn
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Elizabeth Helen Blackburn (born 26 November 1948) is an Australian–American Nobel laureate who is the former president of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.  In 1984, Blackburn co-discovered telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes the telomere, with Carol W. Greider. For this work, she was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, sharing it with Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak, becoming the first Australian woman Nobel laureate.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 26 November 1948 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Hobart ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Australia; United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P27))
- **Occupation:** biologist; molecular biologist; biochemist; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P106))
- **Education:** University of Melbourne; Darwin College; University of Cambridge; University High School; Janet Clarke Hall ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P69))
- **Official website:** blackburnlab.ucsf.edu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P856))
- **Positions held:** President of the American Association for Cancer Research (2010–2011) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P39))
- **Awards:** Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; L'Oréal-UNESCO Award For Women in Science; Benjamin Franklin Medal; Harvey Prize; Canada Gairdner International Award; Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize; Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize; Victorian Honour Roll of Women; Albany Medical Center Prize; Alfred P. Sloan, Jr. Prize; Dr A.H. Heineken Prize for Medicine; Dickson Prize in Medicine; Gruber Prize in Genetics; Pearl Meister Greengard Prize ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321#P166))

## About

She also worked in medical ethics, and was controversially dismissed from the Bush administration's President's Council on Bioethics. 170 scientists signed an open letter to the president in her support, maintaining that she was fired because of political opposition to her advice.

## Questions

**When was Elizabeth Blackburn born?**  
Elizabeth Blackburn was born on 26 November 1948 in Hobart.

**What positions has Elizabeth Blackburn held?**  
Positions held by Elizabeth Blackburn include: President of the American Association for Cancer Research (2010–2011).

**Where did Elizabeth Blackburn study?**  
Elizabeth Blackburn was educated at University of Melbourne, Darwin College, University of Cambridge, University High School.

## Related

- [Barbara McClintock](https://diginpl.com/people/barbara-mcclintock)
- [Carol W. Greider](https://diginpl.com/people/carol-w-greider)
- [Gertrude B. Elion](https://diginpl.com/people/gertrude-b-elion)
- [Gerty Cori](https://diginpl.com/people/gerty-cori)
- [Har Gobind Khorana](https://diginpl.com/people/har-gobind-khorana)
- [James Watson](https://diginpl.com/people/james-watson)
- [Karl Landsteiner](https://diginpl.com/people/karl-landsteiner)
- [Linda B. Buck](https://diginpl.com/people/linda-b-buck)
- [Rosalyn Sussman Yalow](https://diginpl.com/people/rosalyn-sussman-yalow)
- [Thomas Hunt Morgan](https://diginpl.com/people/thomas-hunt-morgan)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Elizabeth Blackburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Blackburn) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q26321](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26321) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Elizabeth Blackburn in 2024 by Christopher Michel.jpg by Christopher Michel (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_Blackburn_in_2024_by_Christopher_Michel.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Elizabeth Blackburn, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Elizabeth Blackburn in 2024 by Christopher Michel.jpg — Christopher Michel, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Elizabeth Blackburn". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/elizabeth-blackburn. Retrieved 6 November 2026.