Irish-born scientist among trio awarded Nobel Prize in medicine
Three scientists from Ireland, Japan and China have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries that helped doctors fight malaria and infections caused by roundworm parasites.
The Nobel judges in Stockholm, Sweden, awarded the prestigious prize to Irish-born William Campbell, Satoshi Omura, of Japan, and Tu Youyou – the first ever Chinese medicine laureate.
Campbell and Omura were cited for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites, while Tu was rewarded for discoveries concerning a novel therapy against malaria.
“The two discoveries have provided humankind with powerful new means to combat these debilitating diseases that affect hundreds of millions of people annually,” the committee said.
“The consequences in terms of improved human health and reduced suffering are immensurable.”
Campbell is a research fellow emeritus at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.
Omura, 80, is a professor emeritus at Kitasato University in Japan and is from the central prefecture of Yamanashi.
Tu is chief professor at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The winners will share the eight million Swedish kronor (€856,000) prize money, with one half going to Campbell and Omura, and the other to Tu.
Each winner will also get a diploma and a gold medal at the annual award ceremony on December 10, the anniversary of the death of prize founder Alfred Nobel.
Last year’s medicine award went to three scientists who discovered the brain’s inner navigation system.
The medicine award was the first Nobel Prize to be announced.
The winners of the physics, chemistry and peace prizes are set to be announced later this week. The economics prize will be announced next Monday.
No date has been set yet for the literature prize, but it is expected to be announced on Thursday.
