Ruth L. Kirschstein was an influential American biomedical researcher and a pioneer in the field of medical research. Born on July 24, 1926, she made significant contributions to the understanding of the effects of viruses on the immune system. Kirschstein was the first woman to serve as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. Throughout her career, Kirschstein advocated for women in science and played a crucial role in promoting research funding. She was instrumental in establishing the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, which supports the training of researchers in various biomedical fields.