Nobel prize to Irish-American scientist Dr. William Campbell

On 10 December 2015, Irish-American scientist Dr. William Campbell will receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015. Dr. Campbell shares one half of the prize jointly with Satoshi Ōmura "for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections cause by roundworm parasites" and the other half with Youyou Tu "for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria"

Dr. Campbell was born in Ramelton, Co. Donegal and studied at Trinity College Dublin before moving to the US. In announcing their decision in October 2015, the Nobel Assembly a Karolinska Institutet stated that

"Diseases caused by parasites have plagued humankind for millennia and constitute a major global health problem. In particular, parasitic diseases affect the world's poorest populations and represent a huge barrier to improving human health and wellbeing. This year's Nobel Laureates have developed therapies that have revolutionized the treatment of some of the most devastating parasitic diseases."

"William C. Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura discovered a new drug, Avermectin, the derivatives of which have radically lowered the incidence of River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis, as well as showing efficacy against an expanding number of other parasitic diseases. Youyou Tu discovered Artemisinin, a drug that has significantly reduced the mortality rates for patients suffering from Malaria."

"These two discoveries  have provided humankind with powerful new means to combat these debilitating diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people annually. The consequences in terms of improved human health and reduced suffering are immeasurable."

Dr. Campbell will give a lecture on Monday 8 december in the Aula Medica at Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 6, at 13.00. The lecture is free of charge and open for the public and will be live streamed on http://www.nobelprize.org.

For more information about the Nobel Prize and Nobel Week visit www.nobelprize.org.