Drew University Scientist Wins 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine

Three scientists were named the 2015 Nobel Prize winners in the category of Physiology or Medicine Monday, with one of the scientists coming from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

William Campbell is part of the trio that have discovered therapies that “have revolutionized the treatment of some of the most devastating parasitic diseases,” according to a statement from the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet.

Campbell, who was a Parasitologist Fellow at Drew from 1990 to 2010, is now a RISE (Research Institute for Scientists) Associate at the school. Campbell, 85, has his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and previously worked as the Senior Director of Basic Parasitology for Merck & Company.

Campbell shares the award with his partner on the project, Satoshi Omura. The duo 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,” the Institutet said.

Campbell and Omura were joined by Youyou Tu, who discovered Artemisinin, a drug that “has significantly reduced the mortality rates for patients suffering from Malaria,” the statement said.

At age 85, Campbell is among the oldest Nobel winners in history, across all fields. Only 15 winners in the prize’s history have been Cambell’s age or older. A total of 106 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine have been awarded between 1901 and 2015, with only 38 Laureates winning the prize individually.

The youngest Nobel winner in the field of medicine was just 32 - Frederick Banting, in 1932, for his discovery of Insulin. Campbell competed for oldest laureate in the field, but was bested by the 1966 winner Peyton Rous, who was 87 at the time.

Along with the accolade, the Nobel Prize comes with a monetary award as well. The full payout is $8,000,000 Swedish kronor, which converts to roughly $960,700 U.S. dollars.

To see the full breakdown of the scientists’ breakthroughs, click here.

Photo Credit: Drew University