Announcements of the 2008
Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine was held on
the Oct. 6, 2008 at Karolinska
Institutet. Half of the
award goes to Prof. Harald
Zur Hausen, M.D., from German
Cancer Research Centre,
Heidelberg, Germany and
the winner of the 2005 Prince
Mahidol Award in Public
Health.
Prof. Zur Hausen plays
an important role in the
study of cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the third
most commonly found cancer
in women. Approximately
500,000 women are diagnosed
with cervical cancer annually,
and 80% are among those
in the developing country.
Prof. Zur Hausen became
interested in studying the
human papilloma virus (HPV)
since 1970s. In 1976, he
postulated a role for HPV
in cervical cancer. In 1983,
he found novel HPV-DNA in
cervix cancer biopsies,
and thus discovered the
new, tumourigenic HPV16.
He then showed that HPV16
and HPV18 are the cause
of the cervical cancer
The discovery by Prof.
Zur Hausen led to an understanding
of mechanisms for papilloma
virus-induced carcinogenesis.
His findings led to prevention
and development of vaccines
against HPV. The vaccines
will reduce the need for
surgery, the global burden
of cervical caner, and the
fatality rate from this
disease.
Prof. Zur Hausen received
the Prince Mahidol Award
in Public Health in 2005
for the discovery of HPV.
He is also currently an
advisor to the National
Science and Technology Development
Agency (NSTDA).
It is an honor that Prof.
Zur Hausen, recipient of
the Prince Mahidol Award
in 2005 for the same discovery,
will once again, be applauded
and recognized for his achievement
in receiving the 2008 Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
On behalf of the Mahidol
University, we extend our
congratulations to Prof.
Harald Zur Hausen, M.D.
Reference:
1) http://www.princemahidolaward.org/laureate-bio.en.php?type=ind&id=2006-11-22%2017:27:03
2) http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2008/press.html
Post
Date : October 10, 2008
