"I'm immensely proud of my Donegal roots,” Nobel Prize in Medicine Winner William C Campbell

2015 is a year Donegal~ Ramelton-born scientist William Campbell will never forget as he has become one of three winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine.

He was awarded the prize - along with Satoshi Omura of Japan and Youyou Tu from China.The prize was given to them for their discoveries that helped doctors fight malaria and infections caused by roundworm.

In a statement, the Nobel committee said: "The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015 was divided, one half jointly to William C Campbell and Satoshi Omura 'for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites' and the other half to Youyou Tu 'for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria'".

Dr Campbell was born in 1930 in Ramelton and is currently affiliated with Drew University in New Jersey. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions in the US and elsewhere.

“Most of us are products of our nurture, and I was blessed with a positive nurturer in Ramelton, both in my home life and in my education. There’s always been this great compulsion to try to do things, and to try to do different things.

“I had wonderful, totally dedicated parents, who filled me with great, old-time values. My siblings and I had a tutor from the age of six, a woman professional teacher, who instilled a love of learning. Irish Times 9/10/15

Professor Mark W.J. Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland commented

“The numerous impacts of Dr. Campbell’s outstanding research – alleviating human suffering, allowing farm and domestic animals to live healthy lives - epitomise perfectly Science Foundation Ireland’s strategic goal to foster and fund excellent scientific research with impact. Hopefully Dr. Campbell’s well deserved recognition with a Nobel Prize will inspire many young people in Ireland to pursue a career in science and contribute in a similar impactful way.”