Nobel Laureate Speaks at International Workshop on Helicobacter

Sep 16, 2011

Australian Nobel Laureate, Dr Barry Marshall, gave a keynote lecture on the present and future of Helicobacter research at the 24th International Workshop on Helicobacter and related bacteria in chronic digestive inflammation and gastric cancer held at Trinity College Dublin recently.  The event, which was hosted by Trinity College’s Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Medicine, Colm O’Moráin, attracted more than 300 international scientists.

Helicobacter pylori is found in the stomach lining of three billion people around the world and is the most common bacterial infection of man.  According to the World Health Organisation Helicobacter is considered a Class 1 carcinogen.  Populations in the Far East have seen an increase in the incidence of both Heliocobacter and gastric cancer leading to a delegation of over twenty scientists from China attending the conference.

The conference forms part of the School of Medicine’s tercentenary celebrations.   Highlights included details of the discovery by Professor O’Moráin and his research group which shows that eradicating the Helicobacter pylori organism leads to a permanent cure of duodenal ulcer.  Professor of Medicine and Vice-Provost of Medical Affairs at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Medicine, Dermot Kelleher presented results of his collaborative work with South America and Europe on childhood acquisition of the bacteria, and a memorial lecture for the late Professor Anthony Moran of NUIG was delivered by his former student, Dr Sean Hynes.