Edith M. Taylor
Edith M. Taylor (1899-1993) was a Canadian biochemist known primarily for her work in producing novel techniques in vaccine production, especially her work on the production of diphtheria toxoid, while employed as a researcher by Connaught Laboratories in Toronto, Canada. Early life and education Taylor was born in 1899 in Toronto to a family of 10 children. She attended the University of Toronto and graduated with a PhD in Chemistry in 1924. Career In 1925, Taylor began work with Connaught Laboratories, a public medical research group associated with the University of Toronto. One of her first projects at Connaught involved major contributions to the culturing process of diphtheria toxoid, a non-toxic form of diphtheria toxin safe for vaccination. Connaught had been producing tetanus toxoid since 1927 and, though their product was effective, it also produced unwanted side effects. Taylor lead a research team dedicated to streamlining and improving the production of the toxoid. Taylor's cultures were grown through a broth consisting of veal infusion and hog stomach treated with calcium chloride and nicotinic acid. The toxin cultures produced through Taylor's method were more potent than those produced using commercially available broths. Taylor also contributed to the development of a stabilized