——Lecture Series to Encourage Young Generation to Fearlessly Explore the Power of “What Science Can Do”

Between November 14 and 16, 2016, Professor Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate and Royal Society Fellow, whose discovery of Helicobacter pylori as the cause of gastric ulcer has profoundly impacted many aspects of immunology and medicine, is visiting China to give a series of lectures to students and staff at Fudan University and China Pharmaceutical University, as part of the 2016 Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative (NPII). The epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori continues to be an area of discovery and controversy in the 21^st century. During this NPII event in China, Professor Marshall shared his latest innovative research ideas, which involve harnessing the immune regulatory properties of H. pylori to re-balance the immune system and improve the management of allergy.

NPII is a global program designed to bring Nobel Laureates into closer contact with the worldwide scientific community, especially with an audience of young scientists, sharing the Laureates’ inspirational stories and insights to ignite the next generation’s enthusiasm and pursuit of science. The program is a partnership between AstraZeneca and Nobel Media AB, who use a range of broadcast and digital media productions and events to spread knowledge and interest in the Nobel Prizes.

Barry Marshall is an Australian physician, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Western Australia, Ambassador for Life Sciences for Western Australia and a Foreign Member of the prestigious US National Academy of Science. He shared the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with his long-term collaborator Robin Warren “for their discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.” Their research results were a major challenge to the prevailing view that gastric disorders had a physiological basis, rather than being infectious diseases. This discovery has allowed for a breakthrough in understanding a causative link between H. pylori infection and stomach cancer. H. pylori is now listed under Group 1 of Carcinogenic risk by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. Currently, Professor Marshall is still working to eradicate H. pylori, which affects half the world’s population, and has helped establish six projects in China, where 500 million people are infected. Eradication of H. pylori can effectively reduce the risk of gastric cancer by up to 39%. China has a high incidence of H. pylori infection as well as gastric cancer; however, most Chinese people have very limited awareness and attention to H. pylori.  

During his visits to the two universities this week, Professor Marshall has been conducting a series of lectures, roundtable discussions and informal seminars to interact with students and young scientists from the biomedical field. His keynote speech entitled “Man vs. Helicobacter – The past 50,000 years and the next 50,” shares his novel approaches to scientific research and his passionate exploration.

“I am thrilled to once again have the opportunity to participate in this NPII program in China and interact with so many aspiring young students and researchers,” said Professor Marshall. “I see no boundaries to science, and I sincerely hope that my own experiences can encourage the younger generation to fearlessly explore the next frontiers through their own scientific journeys.”   

This November marks the fifth time that China has hosted an NPII event and will mean that more than 6,500 aspiring scientists across China’s top universities and research centers have been reached since 2011. This NPII program has also brought Nobel Laureates to many other countries, including the UK, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, Russia, South Korea, India, France and Japan. NPII events invite Nobel Laureates to participate in a series of lectures, question and answer sessions and panel discussions at top-tier higher-education institutions, with a particular emphasis on helping young and aspiring scientists to unlock their potential. Content from the events, including a full recording of each Nobel Laureate’s lectures, is also available online to share with the broader scientific community.    

To read more about the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative please visit: http://www.nobelprizeii.org/