MORRIS COUNTY

Drew professor wins Nobel Prize

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

A Drew University professor won the Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for discovering a way to combat river blindness.

William C. Campbell, 85, a research fellow emeritus at Drew University currently living in the Boston suburb of North Andover, Mass., won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with China’s Youyou Tu and Japan’s Satoshi Omura.

The three scientists were praised for their work with tropical and parasitic disease medications.

Tu was lauded for discovering artemisinin, a drug now used as the primary treatment for malaria.

Campell and Omura discovered the drug avermectin could help combat river blindness and lymphatic filariasis caused by parasitic worms in millions of people in Africa and Asia.

The three laureates will split the prize of 8 million Swedish kronor - about $960,000. Tu is awarded half of the prize, while Campbell and Omura each receive one quarter. Each also receives a diploma and gold medal at the award ceremony Dec. 10.

The Irish-born Campbell made his discovery while working at the pharmaceutical company Merck in 1975. Originally an animal health product, in 1978 he suggested the use of the drug to fight river blindness, a parasitic infection spread by black flies that can cause intense itching, skin discoloration, rashes, and eye disease that often leads to permanent blindness.

Campbell’s work led Merck to develop Mectizan, which was then used to treat the disease.

“We are particularly proud of our colleague Dr. Campbell whose innovation, passion and dedication to fighting diseases during his 30-year career at Merck enabled the development of Mectizan,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer for Merck. “Through our Mectizan Donation Program we have been working with partners for nearly three decades to make this medicine available, free of charge, to all those affected by river blindness.”

Merck has been donating the drug to those who need it since 1987 through the MECTIZAN Donation Program.

Campbell worked at Merck until his retirement, at which point he transitioned to Drew University’s Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti (RISE) program.

Through Drew’s RISE program, Campbell assisted students with their research.

"Drew University is thrilled that Dr. William Campbell was named a Nobel Laureate for his work that literally helped save millions of lives,” President MaryAnn Baenninger said. “We are so proud that this stellar scientist is part of the Drew community and, as part of the RISE, worked directly with Drew undergraduate students.”

Vincent Gullo is very familiar with Campbell’s work. He was a colleague of Campbell’s both at Merck and at Drew University where they were both RISE fellows.

“He is an excellent scientist, a great team leader at Merck when I was a young scientist working on his project, and an amazing man,” Gullo said. “He is very humble, gentle, great intellect, and a pleasure to be around.”

Drew’s RISE program was established in 1980 to enable students to work on research projects with retired scientists.

“As far as we know there’s nothing like this in the world,” Gullo said. “Getting scientists to come out of retirement to work one-on-one with students.”

Gullo said he was “next door neighbors” with Campbell at the RISE program, and they would regularly “reminisce about bygone days” and discuss Campbell’s many hobbies.

“He’s not just a scientist. He’s a poet, an artist, and acts in local plays,” Gullo said. “He’s a man of all trades, and an example of following your passion.”

Gullo said Campbell’s paintings usually dealt with the test subjects of his experiments, roundworms, which would one day land him a Nobel Prize.

“His art came from the worms he worked with,” Gullo said. “He drew them abstract and in color.”

Campbell worked directly with the Drew students until about five years ago when he left the program and became an associate fellow. As an associate fellow, Campbell lectures honors science students and speaks at RISE seminars. His last student lecture was during the spring semester.

Stephen Von Stetina took two courses with Campbell during his time at Drew.

“What I remember most is his kindness, his manners and his awesome dry sense of humor,” Von Stetina said. “I am happy that so humble a man, who has done so much for so many, is being recognized for those efforts.”

Gullo said he sent his friend a congratulatory text Monday morning upon learning he won the Nobel Prize.

“I’m so excited for him, I can’t even imagine how he feels,” Gullo said.

Campbell couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com