Ireland

Nobel Prize winner is Co Donegal native

Ramelton-born William C Campbell and his colleague Satoshi Omura have just been jointly awarded half a coveted Nobel Prize for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites
Ramelton-born William C Campbell and his colleague Satoshi Omura have just been jointly awarded half a coveted Nobel Prize for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites Ramelton-born William C Campbell and his colleague Satoshi Omura have just been jointly awarded half a coveted Nobel Prize for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites
By Valerie Robinson

A Co Donegal community is celebrating its links to a world leading scientist who has been awarded a Nobel Prize for a breakthrough medical discovery.

Ramelton-born William C Campbell and his colleague Satoshi Omura have just been jointly awarded half the coveted prize for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites.

The other half of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology went to Chinese scientist Youyou Tu for her discoveries concerning a new therapy against malaria called Artemisinin.

The Irish man and his Japanese colleague have been recognised for their discovery of a new drug, called Avermectin, the derivatives of which have radically lowered the incidence of River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis, as well as helping to combat several other parasitic diseases.

An expert in parasite biology, Prof Campbell was born in 1930 in Ramelton, near Letterkenny, which currently has a population of just over 1,200 and lies on the mouth of the River Lennon.

After receiving a BA from Trinity College Dublin in 1952, he received a PhD from the University of Wisconsin in 1957.

From 1957 to 1990 he was with the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research and from 1984 to 1990 worked as Senior Scientist and Director for Assay Research and Development.

Prof Campbell is currently a Research Fellow Emeritus at Drew University, Madison, New Jersey.

Ramelton-based Independent councillor Ian McGarvey said the heritage town was “very proud” of its native son.

“He is just one of the people who has done well who is from Ramelton,” Mr McGarvey said.

He pointed to other high-profile locals who rose to fame, including nurse Catherine Black, who became the private nurse of King George V from 1928 until his death in 1936, as well as New Zealand rugby union player Dave Gallaher, and one-time Celtic footballer Patsy Gallaher.

Mr McGarvey said Ramelton’s past as a thriving harbour town had transformed it into a progressive community which exported many talented individuals to other countries, adding: “This is a very historical town.”

He called on Donegal County Council to recognise Prof Campbell’s achievements by organising a special celebratory reception in his honour in the near future.