Anna-Riitta Fuchs, SCD Papers

Anna-Riitta Fuchs was a renowned scientist in the field of reproductive medicine. She was born in Finland in 1926. In 1948, she was married to Fritz Fuchs, who was also a pioneer in the field of reproductive medicine. She earned a BS in 1949 and a MS in Chemistry in 1950 from the University of Helsinki, Finland and a Doctor of Science from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark in 1978. Both Drs. Fuchs had fellowships in the Department of Embryology at the Carnegie Institution of Washington in Baltimore in 1950-1951. From 1952-1965, she had various research positions in Copenhagen including adjunct assistant professor of reproductive physiology at the University of Copenhagen. She and her husband immigrated to America in 1965 when Fritz Fuchs was appointed the chair of Cornell University Medical College Department of OB/GYN. She worked as a scientist for the Population Council at the Rockefeller University from 1965-1976. In 1971, she joined the faculty of Cornell University Medical College as research assistant professor. She rose to professor in 1986.

Both Drs. Fuchs were pioneers in the field of reproductive medicine. Their most important scientific discovery was the use of alcohol to reduce premature labor. While at the Population Council in the 1960s, she discovered that the hormone oxytocin was blocked by the use of alcohol in rabbits. They developed a treatment using alcohol to prevent premature labor in humans.

She was active in many professional activities including the New York Academy of Science, Association for Women in Science, and the New York City Commission on the Status of Women.

She passed away in 2014.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: See Fritz Fuchs Biography File in Biography Vertical Files.