Dr. William Cecil Campbell is a Nobel Laureate renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to antimicrobial therapy and parasitology. Born in Ramelton, Ireland on June 28, 1930, he completed his undergraduate education at Trinity College Dublin before earning his PhD at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1957, with a research focus on parasitology, specifically the study of liver flukes, and his graduate studies were in veterinary science, zoology, and pathology. Following his doctoral studies, he joined the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, where he was appointed director of basic parasitology in 1976, and served as senior scientist and director of assay research and development from 1984 to 1990. Dr. Campbell currently holds the position of Emeritus Fellow at Drew University, participating in the RISE (Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti) program since 1990, continuing to influence the scientific community through his writings and public engagements.
Dr. Campbell's most significant scientific achievement was the discovery and development of avermectin, which was chemically modified into ivermectin, a revolutionary antiparasitic compound effective against nematode infections. In collaboration with Japanese microbiologist Satoshi Omura, who had isolated promising Streptomyces bacteria strains, Dr. Campbell identified that Streptomyces avermitilis produced avermectin, a substance with extraordinary efficacy against parasitic worms. This discovery led to treatments for river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, devastating diseases that primarily affect impoverished communities in tropical regions. The global implementation of ivermectin has prevented millions of cases of blindness and disability, representing one of the most impactful pharmaceutical interventions in medical history.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Dr. Campbell received the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Satoshi Omura and Youyou Tu, and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2002. His scientific legacy continues through the widespread use of ivermectin, which has become one of the most administered antiparasitic drugs for both veterinary and human applications worldwide. At age 90, Dr. Campbell released his memoir "Catching The Worm: River Blindness, William C. Campbell and the Nobel Prize," chronicling his scientific journey and the discovery process that transformed global health. Dr. Campbell's work exemplifies how dedicated scientific inquiry can yield transformative solutions to some of humanity's most persistent health challenges, particularly for the world's most vulnerable populations.
