New parasite biology lectureship honours Nobel winner William Campbell

Posted on: 24 November 2016

Trinity College Dublin has created a new lectureship in parasite biology to honour former student William Campbell, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in this area in 2015. 

Professor Campbell became the third Trinity graduate to win a Nobel Prize, after ETS Walton and Samuel Beckett, when he was jointly awarded the accolade with Professor Satoshi Omura for their discovery of a drug that guards against infections caused by roundworm parasites.

The drug and its derivatives have radically lowered the incidence of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, and have also shown efficacy against a growing range of other parasitic diseases. Professor Campbell and Professor Omura’s work has saved millions of lives.

The newly created lectureship will see another distinguished professor join Trinity’s thriving School of Natural Sciences for a five-year term, with a view to permanency. To read more about the position, see here.

Parasite Biology encompasses all aspects of parasitology and host-parasite relationships including parasite ecology and epidemiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics.

According to recent reports, parasites are responsible for over one million deaths each year. And, with global climate change set to have an increasing influence on the frequency and distribution of animal species, parasitic ranges will likely shift, bringing them into contact with more and more people.

As such, the newly created lectureship will bring timely, related expertise to Trinity, while simultaneously serving as a fitting tribute to one of Trinity’s greatest minds.

Professor in Zoology at Trinity, Celia Holland, said:  “We in Zoology are delighted and proud that the tradition of parasitology, in both teaching and research, will continue with the creation of the William C. Campbell lectureship in Parasite Biology.”