Ko Kuei Chen was born on February 26, 1898 in Shanghai, China. He came to the United States after graduating from Tsing Hua College in Peiping (now Beijing) in 1918. Chen received a B.S. in pharmacy (1920) and a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology (1923) from the University of Wisconsin as well as an M.D. degree from Johns Hopkins University (1927).
Chen remained at Johns Hopkins as an associate in pharmacology until 1929 when he joined the staff of . He directed Lilly’s pharmacological division for 34 years. During that time, he accumulated numerous awards for his research and became known for his discoveries of ephedrine and a cyanide poison antidote. Both the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and the University of Wisconsin awarded Chen honorary doctorates.
Retiring from Lilly in 1963, Chen joined the as a full-time professor and research scientist. In 1965, he was awarded the Remington Medal by the American Pharmaceutical Association, presented annually to an individual who has given outstanding service to American pharmacy. Dr. Chen died in San Francisco on December 12, 1988, at the age of 90.
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APA:
Ingels Helmond, K. (2021). Ko Kuei Chen. Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved May 3, 2026, from https://indyencyclopedia.org/ko-kuei-chen/.
MLA:
Ingels Helmond, Kathy. “Ko Kuei Chen.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, 2021, https://indyencyclopedia.org/ko-kuei-chen/. Accessed 3 May 2026.
Chicago:
Ingels Helmond, Kathy. “Ko Kuei Chen.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, 2021. Accessed May 3, 2026. https://indyencyclopedia.org/ko-kuei-chen/.
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