Donegal scientist’s delight at Nobel prize for medicine
William C Campbell found out in October he would be given the award for his work in tackling infections linked to roundworm.
Millions of people around the world benefit from his work each year.
Dr Campbell, a graduate of Trinity College, is one of three winners of this year’s Nobel prize for medicine. He was awarded the prize along with Japanese scientist Satoshi Omura and Chinese researcher Tu Youyou.
Dr Campbell and Prof Omura will split half the 8m Swedish Krona (€860,000) prize money between them, while the other half will go to Prof Tu Youyou.
The scientists developed avermectin — a drug which has lowered the incidence of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in Africa and Asia. River blindness, a parasitic infection, is caused by microscopic worms and is spread by the bites of infected black flies. It can cause intense itching, skin discolouration, rashes, and eye disease, and often leads to permanent blindness.
Lymphatic filariasis, another parasitic disease, is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. In some cases, people who contract the condition experience a large amount of swelling of the arms and legs.
“The global impact of your discovery and the resulting benefit for mankind are immeasurable,” said the Nobel Foundation.
Watched by his proud family, the 85-year-old was presented with the prize by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. “It’s a wonderful time and I’m delighted to be here,” Dr Campbell said.
The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, which helped build democracy in the country after the 2011 revolution, received the Nobel Peace Prize.
This year’s award was collected at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital by members of four organisations, representing unions, industry, trade, and human rights.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited the group for “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy” after the revolution that overthrew its long-time authoritarian president.
Norwegian Nobel committee chairwoman Kaci Kullmann Five cited the group for “its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy” following Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that overthrew its long-time authoritarian president.
“It speaks to the core of Alfred Nobel’s will and Nobel’s vision of fraternity, disarmament and peace-building forums,” she said.
“Against a backdrop of unrest and war... [their] resolute intervention helped to halt the spiralling violence and put developments on a peaceful track” after the summer of 2013 when Tunisia was on the brink of civil war.
