Home > Media releases > 2005

AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS AWARDED NOBEL PRIZE FOR REMARKABLE DISCOVERY
4 October 2005

Professor Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren from Western Australia have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their discovery that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers.

'Their remarkable discovery means that peptic ulcers are no longer a chronic illness requiring lifelong treatment; they can be cured quickly with antibiotics and acid secretion inhibitors,' said Dr Jim Peacock, President of the Australian Academy of Science.

Professor Marshall, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, and Dr Warren share the 2005 Nobel Prize for research which began with the discovery of H. pylori in 1982 at the Royal Perth Hospital.

The award-winning collaboration began when Professor Marshall became interested in Dr Warren's observations of small curved bacteria colonising the stomachs of patients with gastritis. With further research they established that 90 per cent of duodenal ulcers and up to 80 per cent of gastric ulcers are caused by H. pylori.

'Their research has revolutionised our understanding and treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcers,' said Dr Peacock.

'When they made their discovery it was received with scepticism but they persevered and now two decades on antibiotics are an accepted treatment for ulcers.'

Mr John Ralph, Chairman of the Academy's Australian Foundation for Science, announced in a meeting earlier today that a poster celebrating the award-winning research will be produced and distributed to all schools in Australia. This follows on from a poster distributed by the Australian Academy of Science to honour the 1996 Nobel Prize recipients, Professor Peter Doherty and Professor Rolf Zinkernagel.

Dr Peacock said, 'The Academy is delighted that two outstanding Australian scientists who have made such a major contribution have been acknowledged in this way. It demonstrates that Australian scientists are at the forefront of medical research and that you don't have to head overseas to do award-winning research.

'Australians should feel proud that our home-grown scientists have been recognised on the world stage for their achievements.'